The GALA Festival is held every 4 years. Choruses from all over the world come together for a week of music, camaraderie, workshops, and fun. Host cities are chosen from all over the USA and Canada for the festival. Past locations include Denver in 2012 & 2016; Miami in 2008, Montreal in 2004, San Jose in 2000; Tampa in 1996; Denver in 1992, and Seattle in 1989.
Maine Gay Men’s Chorus has registered to participate in the GALA Festival in 2020, which will be held in Minneapolis, MN on July 4-8, 2020. We have set up a special fund so that we can provide some scholarships to help our performers attend. Total cost per person, which includes registration, flights, and housing, can be $800 to $1,000. We appreciate the support of our community. Currently, MGMC has 30 performers. Donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated! Please DONATE today using our secure online contribution page.
GALA’s Mission
GALA Choruses leads the North American LGBT choral movement. Our more than 190 member choruses and their 10,000 singers look to us for support and leadership. We are dedicated to helping choruses become more effective, both artistically and administratively. We assist emerging choruses and facilitate networking and training for established groups. Currently, GALA Choruses is putting special focus on the implementation of programming that will assess and improve the sustainability of our member choruses. GALA Choruses’ signature event is our quadrennial Festival, which brings together over 130 choruses and 6000 singers for the world’s largest LGBT performing arts event.
GALA’s History
GALA Choruses, Inc. was incorporated on July 26, 1983 and is now the leading association committed to serving the GLBT choral movement. Our beginnings can be traced back to 1975 with formation of Philadelphia’s Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, followed in rapid succession by the formation the Stonewall Chorale, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and choruses in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver and other cities. Today, there are over 180 member choruses located throughout North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia.