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GLBT CHORUS RECLAIMING FAITH This past week Conservative Jews voted in favor of same-sex unions and ordaining gay Rabbis. Christian denominations are also taking progressive stands of welcome while the religious right continues to condemn gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) relationships. One Voice Mixed Chorus, the Twin Cities’ 80-voice GLBT community chorus, takes on these controversial topics with Reclaiming Faith: In the Spirit of Justice, performed January 20, 21, 27 and 28, 2007 in four faith communities across the Twin Cities’ metro area. “Religion and spirituality can be painful topics for GLBT people and their allies,” explains Artistic Director, Jane Ramseyer Miller. “While most GLBT Americans have been raised in an organized religion — and many continue to cherish their faith community — there are countless others who have been forced to leave those communities behind.” Audience members are in for a musical treat as this renowned choral group weaves music from spiritual traditions across the globe with powerful storytelling that explores the hot-topic of discrimination and homophobia within spiritual communities in ways that are thought provoking and artistically compelling. This concert also celebrates the many spiritual communities that are taking a stand of welcome toward GLBT people. Performances are Saturday, Jan. 20 - 7:30 PM at Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis — Sunday, Jan. 21 - 3:30 PM at Temple Israel in Minneapolis — Saturday, Jan. 27 - 7:30 PM at Spirit of Hope Methodist Church in Golden Valley and Sunday, Jan. 28 - 3:30 PM at Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in St. Paul. Tickets are available online at www.ovmc.org or by calling 651-298-1954. “In performing Reclaiming Faith we wanted to get out of the concert hall and into the community,” explains Ramseyer Miller. “We deliberately chose hosts that represent a variety of faith communities and geographical communities in the Twin Cities. The response from our host communities has been tremendous and we are honored to collaborate with each of these churches and temples. Reclaiming Faith opens with a dazzling eight-part Pentatonic Alleluia, a chant that layers individual voices to create a full sound affect of color and beauty. A contemporary setting of Hiney Mah Tov by Jewish composer Iris Levine is featured, as well as two stunning choral works by Anton Bruckner and Russian composer, Alexander Kopylov. Same-gender relationships are celebrated in the poignant ballad, Home Is Where The Heart Is and the feminine divine is present in ancient texts by Julian of Norwich and a chant to Yemaya, one of the many deities honored by the Yoruba of West Africa. One of the most alluring pieces in the program is the percussive soundscape, Watane. Inspired by aboriginal culture it was programmed in recognition of the ancient Two-Spirit (gay/transgender) role in Native American cultures. A key element of the concert is a heaping dose of hope and humor heard in Pete Seeger’s adaptation of Gimme That Old Time Religion and Eric Lane Barnes’s The Fundamental. Another feature of the concert is the Shower of Stoles Project, which will be installed in each of the four concert venues in early January. The Shower of Stoles is a collection of over 1,000 liturgical stoles donated by GLBT individuals representing twenty-six faiths from six different countries. Each stole contains the story of a GLBT person who is active in the leadership of their religious community, as well as stories of those who have been excluded from service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition to this collection, members of One Voice are creating some stoles of their own. “We are creating and contributing Jewish tallitot to the Shower of Stoles exhibit to recognize the many Jewish clergy and lay people who had to leave their congregations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said singer Cheryl Hornstein. “The exhibit is an important part of the conversation about spirituality and GLBT culture.” Reclaiming Faith Connects GLBT People of Faith Conservative Jews recently voted in favor of same-sex unions and the ordaining of gay Rabbis, while Christian denominations continue to take progressive stands of welcome even as the religious right persists in condemning gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) relationships. One Voice Mixed Chorus, the Twin Cities’ 80-voice GLBT community chorus, takes on these controversial topics with Reclaiming Faith: In the Spirit of Justice, to be performed January 20, 21, 27 and 28, 2007 in four faith communities across the Twin Cities’ metro area. One Voice is proud to feature two nationally known speakers for these concerts, one on each weekend, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign - Religion and Faith Program. Rabbi Joshua Lesser and Imam Daayiee Abdullah will each speak briefly within the concert about finding tools for GLBT advocacy within one's own faith tradition. Following each of the Sunday concerts, a “Town Hall” discussion will be led by Rabbi Lesser and Imam Daayiee Abdullah on their respective weekends. Rabbi Joshua Lesser, who will speak at the January 20 and 21 concerts, is the spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Haverim in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a founder of the Rainbow Center, a nonprofit organization serving GLBT people and their families. An activist from an early age, Rabbi Lesser is committed to building bridges and deepening understanding between diverse communities and people of all faiths. Imam Daayiee Abdullah, a 20-year convert to the Islamic faith, is a founder of the Al-Fatiha Foundation for GLBTIQ Muslims. Al-fatiha supports GLBTIQ Muslims in reconciling their sexual orientation or gender identity with Islam. Daayiee Abdullah has also written on a variety of topics, including "The Need for Homosexual Marriage in Islam" and "Homosexual Caricatures in the Holy Quran, Arab and Islamic Literatures." Abdullah will speak at the January 27 and 28 concerts. Another highlight of the concert series is the Shower of Stoles Project, which will be on display in all four concert venues. The Shower of Stoles is a collection of over 1,000 liturgical stoles from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons representing twenty-six denominations from six different countries. This extraordinary collection celebrates the gifts of GLBT clergy and laypersons while also honoring those who have been excluded from service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Like the Shower of Stoles Project, the Reclaiming Faith concert is programmed to incorporate a variety of faith traditions, including two pieces of Jewish origin – a Hebrew chant by Linda Hirschorn and a contemporary setting of Hiney Mah Tov by Iris Levine. Since the Shower of Stoles Project currently has only two stoles from the Jewish tradition, One Voice members have created a series of Jewish prayer shawls, or Tallis, in honor of GLBT Jewish lay-leaders and rabbis. One Voice singer Cheryl Hornstein, a cantorial soloist at Shir Tikvah, stepped forward to lead the project along with other One Voice members and volunteers. The result is four tallitot that will be on display at Temple Israel from January 6 –21, 2007. The tallis, also called a tallit, is worn during Morning Prayer, and plays a significant part in the faith life Jewish people. During prayer, the tallis bestows a sense of spirituality and elation on the person praying. One of the tallitot represents all Jewish clergy and lay people, while the other three honor individual rabbi’s from Minnesota. One Voice singer Michael Dodson became involved with the project to learn more about Jewish traditions. Michael is a member of the Roman Catholic faith tradition and highly values ritual as an expression of faith. Others from the chorus who assisted with making the tallitot come from diverse faith backgrounds – Reform Jewish, United Methodist, Mennonite, Lutheran – and all agreed that participating in this project offered a sense of connectedness to their own faith traditions. One Voice Mixed Chorus — esteemed for their musical excellence, diverse repertoire, humor, and a strong commitment to community outreach — is the largest GLBT chorus in North America with eighty singing members spanning ages from 16 to 70. They have performed for thousands of people in the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota, and beyond. Together with another thirty non-singing volunteers known as the Fifth Section of the chorus, One Voice has united gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and straight allies in working for social change for 19 years. To learn more about One Voice and view a complete schedule of performances, visit www.ovmc.org or call 651-298-1954.
CONCERT SCHEDULE
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