Why I Sing!

I officially hit the big 63 this past August!  I can now truly begin the countdown to retirement (34 months and counting), at least on paper.  But it also started me thinking about the impact music and theatre have had on me and why PGMC has become such an important part of my life.

I can’t really think of a time when music or theatre wasn’t a part of my life.  Since as early as I can remember, singing and acting have been integral to who I am as a person.  In grade school it was the Kiwanis Boy’s Choir and the Boise All-City Elementary Honor Chorus.  In Junior High it was three years of Boy’s and Concert Choir, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Rafe Rackstraw in H.M. S. Pinafore.  In High School it was Concert Choir and the Capital Singers as well as South Pacific and Antigone.  While at Boise State University, I had the privilege of being a part of “The Meistersingers” which included singing back-up with Barry Manilow, and my all time favorite theatrical role, Will Parker in Oklahoma.   I was also honored to direct the opening show in the Black Box Theatre (now the Dan Peterson Theatre) in the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts  with “Whose Life is it Anyway?”  I was busy, to say the least.

After college, while trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up, it was the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and, of course, PGMC.  The constant in my life has been music.  It is what grounds me and provides me an outlet that is both relaxing and also serves as a reminder that not matter how much turmoil pervades the world around us – music is an amazing oasis of beauty and calm.

Whether it’s music, theatre, bowling, or square dancing (to name just a few), I hope that you have something that truly brings you joy and happiness.  Music is that for me!!