One Voice Firsts

February 1988 · First organizational meeting

March 1989 · First concert performance

June 26, 1989 · First Pride concert at Lake Harriet

June 30,1990 · First commissioned piece: One Voice by Ann Reed

February 2, 1991 · First time the chorus tossed One Voice memorabilia into the audience. Who will forget those beautiful oven mitts with the chorus logo on them?!

February 6, 1991 · First performance outside the Metro area: Saint Cloud State University Gay & Lesbian Awareness Day

February 1 & 9, 1992 · First time performing a two-night concert: COME, LET US SING! at St. Paul Student Center

July 2-5, 1992 · First GALA Festival participation: Denver, Colorado (we’ve participated in Miami and San Jose since, and look forward to Montreal in 2004!)

Summer 1992 · First major reorganization: shift from an external board of directors to an internal governing body

February 1993 · One Voice's 5th Anniversary Concert – first silent auction

June 1993 · First time "bi" language included in program notes

February 5, 1994 · First tag line: "Out to Entertain You!" · First grant received: MRAC grant for production of Letters From the Front, which celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Stonewall

December 8, 1995 · First time performing in Holidazzle Parade

February 1996 · Mission statement language identifying One Voice as a gay/lesbian chorus is changed to Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual & Transgendered (GLBT)

June 1997 · First SOLD OUT concert: FAERIE HOME COMPANION. One Voice founder Paul Petrella was turned away at the door because he didn’t buy a ticket in advance.

January 1998 · Fifth Section emerges! The Fifth Section is a group of intrepid non-singing volunteers whose support helps us bring our music to our audiences.

June 1998 · 10th Anniversary Concert with Ann Reed at South High School

January 1999 · New website launched: www.ovmc.org

June 1999 · Premiere performance of a commission by deaf composer Wendy Harbour – Visions/Dreams/Imagining. This reflection on the voices of GLBT deaf people was performed in ASL with interpretation for the hearing.

October 2000 · First volunteer coordinator hired and organizational restructuring.

November 2000 · OVation, our small traveling ensemble, is formed

June 2000 · First sequel--premiere performance of FAERIE HOME COMPANION 2: ALL OUR BEST FROM LAKE LESBIONNE · First time One Voice offers three evening performances of a concert · First issue of With One Voice is mailed to fans and supporters

April 2001 · Songs of the Soul is released: our first CD!

June 2001 · Puppets join One Voice for WEAVING WISDOM concert, with help from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre · Choral commission: Jeanne Brindley Barnett sets District 202 poetry to music

March 2002 · First out-of-state tour: the EXTENDED FAMILY TOUR travels throughout South Dakota under the baton of Interim Director Camilla Horne

September 2003 · We celebrate our 15th year with over two dozen performances throughout the year!

March 6, 2003 · One Voice joins hundreds in the OutFront rally and performs for the first time at the Minnesota State Capitol for Lobby Day

March 30, 2003 · "Our" first Masters Recital: One Voice invited to sing Brahms and Schumann under the direction of Ms. Jane Ramseyer Miller for her final conducting recital.

June 2003 · 15th Anniversary Concert

April 24, 2004 · One Voice sponsors one of the first transgender voices festivals in the world.

June 2004 · One Voice performs with TransVoices, the Twin Cities' first transgender chorus.