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Join our Mailing List
We invite you to join the GCMC mailing list. We use this
list to notify people of our upcoming concerts, events, and
of new releases of our recordings. Mailings are sent out both
by U.S. Mail and by email. Please specify which you prefer.
- Click here to join our mailing
list right now through our on-line form. Be sure to
state whether you prefer U.S. Mail, E-Mail, or both when
receiving our mailings. And don't forget to include your
name and address!
- You can also get on our mailing list by:
Membership Information
Interviews for membership in the Grand Canyon Men's Chorale
are held with our musical director, Marc Gaston. To set
up an audition appointment, please email auditions@gcmcphx.org or
call Marc at 602-717-4262.
Please note that you don't have to be a trained or exceptional
singer. The primary requirements are to be able to hold
a tune and follow the director's instructions.
Consider becoming part of a truly extraordinary and talented
group of openly gay men who reflect the very best of the entire
community. We are always looking for a dedicated few to join
us in our message of affirmation, outreach, and pride.
Non-Singing Members
So, singing isn't really your bag? We still want you! The
Grand Canyon Men's Chorale is in serious need of some non-singing
members to help us out with our concerts and our standard
non-singing operations. If you want to help, please let us
know. We won't need all of these for every performance, but
we'll sure need all of these from time to time. Some specific
areas of talent we're looking for include:
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Scenic Supervisor
- Scenic Production Crew / Set Construction
- Costume Design
- Wardrobe Supervisor
- Wardrobe Assistant
- Wig, Hair, and Makeup Supervisor and Assistants
- Prop Master
- Production Assistants
- Stage Hands
- Stage Lighting
- Sound and Recording technicians
- Musicians
- Photographers
- Graphic Artists / Ad Layout
- Advertising / Promotional
- Web Designer
Please contact us if you would like to help us out as a
non-singing member.
New/Potential Member Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Q: |
What is the
Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale? |
| A: |
The Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale (GCMC) is a four-part,
by-audition, not-for-profit, artistic, community organization,
providing entertainment through song, across the state
of Arizona and predominantly in the Phoenix/Maricopa
County area. |
| Q: |
Who belongs to GCMC? |
| A: |
Historically, membership has been
composed of mostly gay and bisexual men of all ethnicities,
although membership is open to all people without regard
for race, color, creed, gender, marital status, age,
national origin, sexual orientation, or the presence
of any physical, mental, or sensory disability. |
| Q: |
I don’t
like to sing in front of an audience. Can I still join
the Chorale? |
| A: |
Absolutely! The Chorale’s “5th
Section” is composed of members who perform the
vital, off-stage tasks that make our performances successful.
These include sound, lighting, set design and construction,
props, costuming, stage assembly and tear-down, and stage
management, to name a few. Additionally, volunteers are
needed constantly to assist with membership recruiting,
marketing, administration, and coordination of our music
library. |
| Q: |
Are there any restrictions or limitations
on membership? |
| A: |
Not at this time. Like most of the
Valley of the Sun, GCMC is experiencing an exciting period
of growth! |
| Q: |
What type of music does the Chorale
perform? |
| A: |
Our repertoire is diverse. Recent
pieces have included popular music by artists like Josh
Groban, traditional pieces such as “What Do We
Do With the Drunken Sailor,” music from Broadway
shows including “Rent” and “Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde,” contemporary arrangements by such
masters as Robert Shaw, and much, much more! |
| Q: |
What is a typical audition like? |
| A: |
Potential members begin by filling
out a brief Member Information form. Information requested
includes your name and contact information, a listing
of any skills or special areas of interest you may have,
and any prior experience singing alone or in a group.
After a brief conversation with our Artistic Director,
you will be asked to sing some scales or other warm-up
exercises. This helps the Artistic Director determine your
vocal range and to which section you would best be assigned.
Finally, the Artistic Director will play brief sequences
of notes, typically three to six notes long, and ask you
to sing them. This helps to determine how easily you will
be able to learn the music GCMC will be performing. |
| Q: |
Is sight reading a part of the audition? |
| A: |
No. We recognize that people learn
in different ways, some by ear, and others by reading
music. |
| Q: |
When are auditions held? |
| A: |
Auditions are held twice a year. Pre-season
auditions occur in late August and early September. Mid-season
auditions are in January. |
| Q: |
How long after
I audition will I know whether or not I’ll be
asked to join GCMC? |
| A: |
Sometimes, especially gifted singers
will be informed at the end of their audition, particularly
if their vocal range is broad enough that they could
sing in more than one section. If a rehearsal is scheduled
for that evening, they may be invited to stay and rehearse
with the Chorale. However, this is not typical. The Artistic
Director needs to be able to see all auditions to assure
there will be appropriate blend and balance across the
group. Notification is usually made within two weeks
of an audition. |
| Q: |
When does the Chorale rehearse? |
| A: |
The full Chorale rehearses on Tuesdays
from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM during the months leading up
to our winter and spring concerts (we take most summers
off). Sectional rehearsals are held once a month for
each section on Tuesdays starting at 6:00 PM and ending
at the start of the full Chorale’s rehearsal. In
the week prior to our seasonal performances, the rehearsal
schedule is intensified and includes technical, dress,
and orchestral rehearsals. Full schedules are published
during pre-season and mid-season periods. |
| Q: |
Are there any dues or fees paid by
members? |
| A: |
Yes. New members are charged a one-time-only
music fee of $25.00. All members pay monthly dues of
$20.00, charged only during those months when rehearsals
occur. Financial assistance may be available through
the Chorale’s Angel Fund. Assistance requests may
be made to the Board of Directors. |
| Q: |
Is there anything else I should know? |
| A: |
All new members are expected to attend
a new-member orientation session conducted during the
months of September and February. Member orientation
guides, which include Chorale policies and procedures,
are distributed and reviewed at these orientation sessions.
New members will also be assigned a Chorale Buddy. This
resource is designed to provide answers to questions,
help new members matriculate into the organization, and
introduce new members to other Chorale members before
and after rehearsals and during break periods. |
Thank You For Your Support
The Grand Canyon Men's Chorale is a designated 501(C)3, non-profit
organization. Generous support given to GCMC from our patrons
helps us to bridge the gap between our ticket revenues and
the actual costs necessary to ensure the finest caliber of
choral performance. We depend and appreciate the support of
our local community. Portions of financial donations given
to GCMC are tax deductible; all support is greatly appreciated.
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