LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Profile |
by Fay Jacobs |
Rainbow Chorale: From Ball Parks to Carnegie Hall
Unique is the word for The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, and founding director Elliot Jones made sure of that. In fact, the Rainbow Chorale is the only GLBT(and S for straight ally) chorus in the state with a mixture of those alphabetical letters. Founded by Jones and five singers in 1998, the Chorale has become one of Delaware's premier choruses, and now, founder Jones is set to direct his final concert with the group before he moves out West to pursue his doctorate. That Rainbow Chorale concert will be on Saturday, June 9 at 8 p.m. at the First and Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delawarethe same site where the original 34 members of the chorale stepped on the stage together for the first time in December of 1999. Tickets and information are available for Jones' exciting final concert at www.therainbowchorale.org. For folks who have never been to one of their wonderful and joyous concerts, the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Inc. (now standing 60-strong) is a non-profit community chorus providing gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their friends and supporters with opportunities to perform choral music in a supportive and affirming environment and it is their goal to elicit change through music. Elliot Jones put the group together in 1998 following a dinner party where the idea came up and was received with much enthusiasm. All that was required for the prospective members was a love of music and, according to the group's mission statement, the desire to impart the ideals, dreams, and aspirations of our community to the listening audience. Education and outreach is a hallmark of Elliot Jones's previous experience as he holds degrees from both Indiana and New York University and has sung leading and supporting roles with Opera Delaware, Indiana Opera Theater, The New Federal Theater, in New York City, and in a national tour of Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also been an oratorio soloist under conductor Leonard Slatkin. While working with the chorus, Jones has been Assistant Professor of Music at Wesley College, conducting the Wesley College Choir, Chamber Choir, and Women's Choir. He has served on the voice faculty of several music schools, led choirs at the Washington National Cathedral and conducted musical theater performances including the first New York City revival of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. From their first concert in 1999, the Rainbow Chorale went on to perform in January 2001 at the inauguration of Governor Ruth Ann Minner; here at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center alongside the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC.; with the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus in Montreal at an international GALA conferenceand they even took the stage for a 2006 gig at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City. Undoubtedly, their performance in front of the largest crowd took place last August when they sang the National Anthem to kick off a Philadelphia Phillies game. Their first CD, Sing Me to Heaven, was released in 2004. And you can forget stodgy choir robes costumes for the Choral range from formal wear (Carnegie Hall) to inventive drag, outrageous costumes of feathers and such, as well as hilarious get-ups. Folks in Rehoboth know the fabulous Bingo-A-Go-Go events at the Convention Center, as a joint fundraiser of Delaware Pride, AIDS Delaware, the Rainbow Chorale, and Rehoboth's Metropolitan Community Church. According to Chorale members, this is not your grandmother's Bingo! It's extreme fun! The June 9 Spring Concert and farewell appearance by director Elliot Jones, is called Why We Sing and the Chorale will perform works by Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Roger Ames, and a setting of Walt Whitman's A Jubilant Song by Norman Dello Joio. The concert will also feature a tribute to the late Barbara GittingsAmerican Gay Rights Pioneer. Showtime is 8 p.m. at First & Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased on-line, via US mail, or through any chorale member. Call 1-888-512-5093 or check out www.therainbowchorale.org for details. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 17, No. 6 June 1, 2007 |