If you need a little levity to help get you through the holidays this year, then a stop at the annual West Michigan Gay Men’s Chorus (WMGMC) is the best ticket in my opinion to lift your spirits. I mean, gay is in the title.
Not only is the WMGMC a great place to experience live holiday music delivered via our community-based chorus, all the members of which volunteer to put on concerts and appearances throughout the city all year long, but this holiday show is a chance for the singers to reflect on the year we have experienced as society.
As with each concert, the guys invite special guest vocalists to share the stage. For their 2016 holiday show, "A Musical Potluck of Songs," they welcome the festive and feisty Sweet Adeline’s Percolate Quartet. The chorus even joins Percolate Quartet on a special rendition of "Please Come Home for Christmas.”
Making a debut this year will be a new vocal arrangement of “Winter Wonderland” by arranger Greg Jasperse.
For the second act, the WMGMC will revisit Orlando’s Pulse tragedy, when 49 people were murdered and another 53 wounded on June 12, 2016 in a terrorist attack/hate crime inside the popular gay nightclub.
Holding fast to the theme of peace on Earth that we all sing often during this time of the year, the WMGMC will sing “Child of Peace,” which asks those gathered to commit to the work of crafting peace in our world.
What makes a WMGMC concerts such a thrill is how these vocalists are able to take us on a musical road trip where somber themes live next door to messages of hope, providing room for lighter, even humorous material to appear.
Best of all, this year’s holiday concert is free. The WMGMC will be taking a collection, and a portion of the proceeds will be directed to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Our LGBT fund.
Admission: Free
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