July 2024: BGMC at GALA
Boise Gay Men’s Chorus took 16 of its members, under the direction of Artistic Director David Burton (far left, back row) to GALA Festival in Minneapolis for five days of singing and communing with LGBTQ+ choruses from around the world. Our collaborative pianist, Becca Taylor (fifth from left), also made the trip.
Many of us anticipated being a part of GALA for eight years. While we had made arrangements to attend the 2020 festival, the pandemic forced everything to cancel. So, our desire to attend the 2024 festival in Minneapolis burned ever more intensely. We couldn’t wait to share our message and hear from all the other multi-talented choruses from all over the world.
BGMC had already prepared an exceptional program centered around mental health. It’s a reality that affects all of us deeply, but a group of 16 gay men from the state of Idaho delivering this message had the potential to be truly extraordinary. We knew we had a responsibility to deliver an honest and impactful program. And, based on the reception we received in real time, and even months afterwards, we knew we had not only met but exceeded those expectations exponentially.
Some of the guys enjoy a meal al fresco while enjoying the sights in Minneapolis. L to R from front: David Burton, Ezekiel Robison, Colin Howard, Dillon Davis, David Lyman, Tyler Gibson, Michael Stear, Adam Tardiff, Josh Espinoza, Bert Allen and Devon Chenoweth.
Our songs took us through a journey, an arc. We started out screaming our most negative thoughts about ourselves, phrases like "I'm not strong enough," "I'm not good enough," “I'm worthless." We then resolved the onslaught with, "You are enough," “It's unbelievable how enough you are," and "You and I must work together to be the light." The message reflected our Boise Choruses mission of “Opening hearts and minds through music,” our goal as performers, and perhaps even more so, as a collective that stands up for humanity, for inclusion and love.
When you're in your own corner of the world, especially one that's very conservative, it can feel extremely isolating, like you're shouting into a void. For those five days at GALA, being around several thousand others who were there to lift us up, gave us a powerful sense of community. Many of us felt, "It's like being in Gay Disneyland." It felt so good to take a collective, unifying breath in knowing that we are okay. We are okay because we were with like-minded individuals.
BGMC singers take a break from rehearsals and performances to enjoy the sights around town. L to R, Dillon Davis, Michael Stear, Colin Howard and Josh Espinoza.
Let us not forget the countless moments and memories we created during this festival. Shared stories, destinations, inside jokes, experiences we can call upon for years to come. That's the part of any experience like this that you can't really put a price on. So many of us are excited to go back in 2028. We hope you'll join us if you choose to be a part of this incredible group of singers!
—Colin Howard