The critically acclaimed Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) – a leading artistic force, staunch advocate of civil and human rights, and the first gay men’s choir to perform for a sitting president (Bill Clinton) – has harnessed the power of music to create a moving anti-bullying music video message featuring Cyndi Lauper’s inspiring anthem “True Colors” for the Internet’s “It Gets Better” project aimed at LGBT youth.
More than 200 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds from across the Southland – gay and straight – participated in the ambitious five-minute video, which was filmed in the gymnasium of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles and further establishes GMCLA as a leading force promoting equality and acceptance.
The video can be viewed at both the It Gets Better and GMCLA websites: www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject and http://www.gmcla.org/.
“The music video” says GMCLA Executive Director Hywel Sims, “is designed to be a community response to send the message ‘It Gets Better’ – that everyone is wonderful just the way they are and that bullying must stop.” He notes that such a message is vital because many LGBT youth cannot image a future for themselves or picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. Among the thousands of individuals and organizations that have taped videos specifically for the site are President Barack Obama, the Democratic National Party, The Employees of Facebook, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, and such celebrities as Tim Gunn of “Project Runway’,” Vinny Guardagnino of “Jersey Shore,” and singers Jewel, Gloria Estefan and Adam Lambert.
The production team for the GMCLA video, all of whom volunteered their expertise for the project, included Brian Graden, former President of Programming at MTV, VH1, CMT and the LGBT channel Logo and named one of the most influential executives in reality programming; Emmy Award-winning producer/director Tim Atzinger; and John Lavin of Bloodrush Films. GMCLA members Bill Bowersock, a multi-gold and platinum award-wining songwriter, and Chris Verdugo produced the video message for GMCLA. Chorus members Bobby Buchanan conducted, Michael Alfera was accompanist, and Matthew Brown wrote the arrangement of “True Colors.” The two soloists who appear in the video are GMCLA members Chris Etscheid and David Werthe.
Long committed to educating youth about acceptance and tolerance, GMCLA, through its Alive Music Project (AMP), also presents the acclaimed “Harvey Milk Schools Project,” a live in-school music and spoken word performance developed by GMCLA that uses song to teach acceptance and equality to overcome prejudice. Presented to Southland high schools free of charge, the program actively promotes the reality that our community's struggle for equal rights is not only universal, but is also an issue that has and can affect any group of people who find themselves in the minority.
To view the GMCLA “It Gets Better” “True Colors” video, please visit www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject or the GMCLA website at http://www.gmcla.org/.
GMCLA UPCOMING LOCAL & NATIONAL STAGE & TV APPEARANCES
--> Nov. 18, GMCLA is featured in episode #9 of CBS' "%$*# My Dad Says," starring William Shatner;
--> On Nov. 28, the chorus performs at the Hollywood Christmas Parade, singing on the main stage for the parade's national television broadcast;
--> Dec. 8 & 25, GMCLA is featured in KCET's national television broadcast of the 2009 LA County Holiday Concert staged at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
--> Dec. 18 & 19, GMCLA pulls out the stops with two matinee and one evening performance of its annual holiday musical extravaganza, led by guest conductor Tim Seelig, in his GMCLA debut, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Some 150 choristers, resplendent in holiday finery, do Santa proud with a bundle of beloved seasonal works, and dazzling Twelve Days of Christmas “Black-Light Puppet Spectacular.” A team of merry elves adds to the musical festivities, which officially kicks off the choir’s 2010-11 Season, its 32nd.
Country legend LeAnn Rimes makes a special guest appearance with the chorus for the Sunday matinee (Dec. 19, 3 pm).
“The music video” says GMCLA Executive Director Hywel Sims, “is designed to be a community response to send the message ‘It Gets Better’ – that everyone is wonderful just the way they are and that bullying must stop.” He notes that such a message is vital because many LGBT youth cannot image a future for themselves or picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. Among the thousands of individuals and organizations that have taped videos specifically for the site are President Barack Obama, the Democratic National Party, The Employees of Facebook, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, and such celebrities as Tim Gunn of “Project Runway’,” Vinny Guardagnino of “Jersey Shore,” and singers Jewel, Gloria Estefan and Adam Lambert.
The production team for the GMCLA video, all of whom volunteered their expertise for the project, included Brian Graden, former President of Programming at MTV, VH1, CMT and the LGBT channel Logo and named one of the most influential executives in reality programming; Emmy Award-winning producer/director Tim Atzinger; and John Lavin of Bloodrush Films. GMCLA members Bill Bowersock, a multi-gold and platinum award-wining songwriter, and Chris Verdugo produced the video message for GMCLA. Chorus members Bobby Buchanan conducted, Michael Alfera was accompanist, and Matthew Brown wrote the arrangement of “True Colors.” The two soloists who appear in the video are GMCLA members Chris Etscheid and David Werthe.
Long committed to educating youth about acceptance and tolerance, GMCLA, through its Alive Music Project (AMP), also presents the acclaimed “Harvey Milk Schools Project,” a live in-school music and spoken word performance developed by GMCLA that uses song to teach acceptance and equality to overcome prejudice. Presented to Southland high schools free of charge, the program actively promotes the reality that our community's struggle for equal rights is not only universal, but is also an issue that has and can affect any group of people who find themselves in the minority.
To view the GMCLA “It Gets Better” “True Colors” video, please visit www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject or the GMCLA website at http://www.gmcla.org/.
GMCLA UPCOMING LOCAL & NATIONAL STAGE & TV APPEARANCES
--> Nov. 18, GMCLA is featured in episode #9 of CBS' "%$*# My Dad Says," starring William Shatner;
--> On Nov. 28, the chorus performs at the Hollywood Christmas Parade, singing on the main stage for the parade's national television broadcast;
--> Dec. 8 & 25, GMCLA is featured in KCET's national television broadcast of the 2009 LA County Holiday Concert staged at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
--> Dec. 18 & 19, GMCLA pulls out the stops with two matinee and one evening performance of its annual holiday musical extravaganza, led by guest conductor Tim Seelig, in his GMCLA debut, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Some 150 choristers, resplendent in holiday finery, do Santa proud with a bundle of beloved seasonal works, and dazzling Twelve Days of Christmas “Black-Light Puppet Spectacular.” A team of merry elves adds to the musical festivities, which officially kicks off the choir’s 2010-11 Season, its 32nd.
Country legend LeAnn Rimes makes a special guest appearance with the chorus for the Sunday matinee (Dec. 19, 3 pm).
--> Dec. 24, GMCLA returns to the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage to perform for the 2010 LA County Holiday Concert.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment