GALA Memories

Photo by Lou R. R. Zurn

The GALA Festival 2024 has now become a part of history, and Minneapolis’s performance was commendable. Good job, people of Minneapolis. The weather presented some challenges, notably an afternoon downpour on Wednesday that introduced attendees to our Skyway system and a severe thunderstorm on Saturday night that caused significant damage in Saint Louis Park. However, the weather was mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures even reaching into the 90s on Sunday. Naturally, the festival’s highlights occurred in the performance halls’ refreshingly cool, air-conditioned environment. I attended as many shows as possible and intend to purchase the $35 streaming pass to view the ones I missed.

The festival kicked off on Wednesday with an opening concert by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, OneVoice Mixed Chorus, and Calliope Women's Chorus, collectively the "host choruses." It's important to acknowledge that OVMC's former artistic director, Jane Ramsmeyer-Miller, spearheaded much of the effort. As this is her final GALA Festival before retirement, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and love for her years of dedication and service.

Some of the highlights of the Festival for me were:

Performing with TCGMC in the opening night Welcome Concert, where I sang backup vocals to “Purple Rain,” and in the Thursday morning coffee concert, where we presented the “EveryBODY” commission we premiered in Mahtomedi last month, joined by the Minnesota Valley Women’s Chorale, See Change Treble Choir, and the James Sewell Ballet. Ray, the little boy who plays Young Tom in the “Tom and Dean” movement, got a standing ovation. That kid’s gonna be a star someday.

Once we had sung the coffee concert, I was done singing. I spent the rest of the festival immersed in the music of other choruses, many of whom brought epic new commissions to the Festival, while periodically riding down Interstate 420, as one of my fellow choristers put it. Hey, it’s legal here now.

Modern Men of the Coachella Valley, under the direction of the legendary Dr. Stan Hill, presented “Momentum,” the final opus of “The Roberts.” Robert Seeley wrote the music to lyrics written by his partner Robert Espindola before his death. It was a powerful piece that’s sure to be performed by GALA Choruses in the future. (After all, that’s what Festival is for.) It was great to see Stan again. He was the TCGMC Artistic Director who let me in.

Heartland Men’s Chorus of Kansas City premiered a new song called “Boys in the Street” about the evolution of a father’s relationship with his gay son that had me in tears. This was probably my “GALA moment” this time. We all have one.

It was great to see the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus perform, too. I never miss their show because New Orleans is my hometown. At first, I thought they wouldn’t be there, but they showed up on the schedule at the last minute. One was a cute guy named Adam who went to college with my friend Jeff. Sadly, Jeff didn’t make the performance, as he’s one of the homeowners affected by that severe thunderstorm Saturday night.

And, of course, there was the exciting conclusion where it was announced that the next GALA Festival will be held… right here in Minneapolis again! I’m already making plans!

And the one lowlight of the Festival:

I’ve tested positive for COVID. It figures. But to be honest, it was worth it.