JOIN US
PGMC celebrates diversity and sings to inspire change! We are an inclusive organization and encourage all to audition, and extend a special welcome to our trans/non binary siblings and folks of color. Whether your vocal range is TTBB or you like to dance - you are welcome to audition.
Join the Chorus.
How do I become a member of the PGMC?
Joining the PGMC is easy. Simply sign up for an audition and we’ll take it from there.
Auditions? Woah… that sounds difficult.
Don’t let the word “audition” scare you! Our auditions are simply a way for us to evaluate your skill level and vocal range.
When are auditions held?
Auditions are held twice a year: in August, before our fall trimester and in December, before our winter trimester.
Who should audition?
All are welcome! Whether you’re classically trained, a karaoke superstar, or just like to sing in the shower, we’d like to welcome you as a member.
If you can’t sing, you can still be part of the fun! There are plenty of opportunities to dance, volunteer, and otherwise get involved throughout the year. Please see below or contact volunteer@pgmc.org for more information.
When is the next round of auditions?
Auditions for singers will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm on:
August 2024 dates TBA!
Dancing audition information coming soon!
Auditions and rehearsals are held at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion located at 2111 Sansom Street, Phila., PA.
About the Audition.
What does an audition entail? Do I have to have a prepared piece?
Auditions are a very simple process. A prepared piece is not needed. A typical audition will consist of the following:
Some exercises to determine your vocal range
A few exercises to test your pitch recall
Singing a piece of music you are familiar with as selected by the director (i.e. “Amazing Grace”, “My Country Tis of Thee”)
Singing your part on a piece of music you most likely don’t know
Overall, the audition will generally last about 5 minutes. It is one-on-one with you and the director.
Do I have to be able to read music?
You should have a basic understanding of music — such as note names, sharps, flats, time signatures — but we do not expect you to be able to sing a piece of music perfectly the first time you see it (though we certainly don’t mind!). We do recognize that some people have sung in groups for years, but never learned to read music properly. We welcome you to audition as well.
How do I sign up for an audition?
There are several ways to schedule an audition:
Web: A few weeks before the audition date, we’ll set up a link where you can select the exact time yourself. Check the paragraph “When is the next round of auditions?” above for the link.
E-mail: membership@pgmc.org
In Person: At concerts or at our booth at Pride events.
We’ll need your name, phone number and/or e-mail so that we can contact you to schedule an audition. When contacting us, please advise us if discretion should be used when returning your message. We don’t want to mistakenly “out” someone when we respond!
Please note: Due to various problems with spam filters and the like, if you e-mail us and you don’t receive an acknowledgment within a week or so, PLEASE E-MAIL US AGAIN!
FAQs
Membership FAQs
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Weekly full chorus rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Samson Street. There is also a monthly sectional rehearsal on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Finally, there is one daytime Saturday rehearsal per concert.
Music is posted online to facilitate individual practice outside of rehearsals as needed. Brotherly Love, our select ensemble, rehearses at additional times, currently on Tuesday evenings. Exact rehearsal dates are finalized before the start of rehearsals for that concert, and generally at the start of the season. We rehearse from September to May or June, with a break in December after our holiday concert.
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We expect all members to attend all rehearsals. We recognize that Chorus members may occasionally become ill or have schedule conflicts with work or other obligations and may need to miss one or two rehearsals. Members should inform their section representative of absences in advance of rehearsal. There is a concert readiness rehearsal for members who have missed regular rehearsals. If a member misses three to four full rehearsals (depending on the concert), that member’s participation in that concert will be at the discretion of the director. Full details are in the membership handbook.
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Yes. Dues for the concert season are currently $225 for the entire year, which includes: a PGMC polo shirt and one additional t-shirt for a concert. If you join in January, dues are $200 for the remaining two concerts. Dues help us pay for our fixed operating expenses, such as music purchases, rehearsal space, insurance, conductor and accompanist salaries, and other staff. Ticket sales alone do not cover all expenses.
Dues are subject to change each concert season
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Yes! There are several options available to those with fixed or limited incomes. These options include a payment plan, donation from other chorus members, or a scholarship where you volunteer your time in exchange for paying dues. Don’t let the “money factor” keep you from joining!
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The chorus has one smaller ensemble called Brotherly Love. This is an auditioned group that performs at our major concerts and other performances as requested. Solos and duets in major concerts will vary depending on our repertoire.
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Our major concert schedule generally follows this format: December – Holiday concert; January - Together! Concert in combination with other Philadelphia Gala choruses; March/April – Spring concert; May/June – Pride Concert. Additionally, there may be a few smaller, optional performances and appearances throughout the year. Events for this season are listed on our Events Page.
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We pride ourselves on doing a variety of music throughout the year. Our repertoire covers everything from classical and holiday music, to ballads, pop and rock, all the way through Broadway and pride music.
Why We Sing & When I Knew Stories
A short video we created of why we sing with PGMC. This is followed by interviews with members of PGMC answering the question, “When did you first know there was something different about you?” You may need to enlarge the screen to read the text in the first video
Be part of our extended community.
What about dancers?
E-mail dance@pgmc.org directly if you are interested in auditioning. Read on for more information on the audition process…
If you’ve been to any of our recent concerts, you’ve probably noticed that for almost all of them, several of the numbers have had 6-10 dancers perform in front of the Chorus. Dancers are integral to most performances and provide the Chorus with its distinctive flair. Many dancers are also singers, but for any individual concert, dancers will often be unable to perform as singers in part or all of that concert. Unlike singers, dancers re-audition at the start of rehearsals for each concert. Auditions are held separately from singer auditions (often on a different date) and are held as a group. Dancers will be taught a brief routine, and should come to auditions dressed to dance; sneakers are recommended. Like singers, all dancers are volunteers and dues-paying members of the Chorus. There is assistance available for people on limited budgets; see above for details. To find out when the next round of dancer auditions are held, or for additional information about being a dancer, send an email to dance@pgmc.org. Check out our YouTube page for samples of some of our performances.
Are there activities outside of singing I can get involved in?
Yes! There are many committees in the Chorus that are vital to its operation. These committees include membership, marketing (publicity & social media), production (venue selection, decorations, costumes, light, and sound), programming (music selection), development (fundraising, grant writing, donor and sponsor stewardship), finance, ticketing and special events (including fundraising events). We encourage involvement in committees by both singing and non-singing members. Additionally, the social committee plans activities for chorus members outside of rehearsals that allow members to socialize and have fun outside of rehearsals.
Do I have to be gay to join the chorus?
Even though the word “gay” is in our name, there is absolutely no requirement that you actually be gay to be in the chorus. PGMC does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, so everyone is welcome to audition.
