| News atbp..! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Michael Quintos Journey in Music for Joy & Healing by Oscar Atadero **************************************************** Michael was born in the Philippines, where he placed as a junior vocalist champion in "Star Search." When he turned 11, his family moved to Las Vegas. While performing in a junior high musical review, "someone in the audience yelled out 'faggot,' and it just shut me down," he said. For the full story.... Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 16:59:27 -0800 From: Richard Kinz Subject: Group has something to sing out about Orange County Register, March 19, 2003 625 N. Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, 92711 (Fax: 714-796-3657) (E-Mail: [email protected] ) ( http://www.ocregister.com/ ) http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do? Group has something to sing out about Music for joy and healing is the aim of Men Alive, O.C.'s gay men's chorus. By Aimee Greenberg, Special to the Register Dramatic. Bombastic. Serious. Sublime. These are the qualities to be found in the music of Men Alive - The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus, which performs this weekend as part of its first full three-concert season. The chorus was founded in September 2001 by artistic director Rich Cook, in response to the absence of a gay chorus in Orange County. There are 180 gay and lesbian vocal ensembles worldwide, with many flourishing in larger cities across the nation, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Portland, Denver, Dallas, San Diego and San Francisco, where the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus first performed in 1978. The mission of O.C.'s Men Alive is to create beautiful music as a vehicle for both joy and healing and to bridge the divide between the gay community and the community at large. Because much of the choral repertory is religious music, and given many churches' marginalization of homosexuals, gay choruses with few exceptions usually dwell in the house of Broadway, pop and cabaret. "For religious choral members, it's wonderful to be able to embrace the sacred aspect of singing again," said Paul Findlay, the chorus' marketing director. Saturday's two concerts by Men Alive in Laguna Hills include highlights from Verdi, Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff but also contain moments of comic relief, promising to entertain and amuse with some surprising lyrics and an American gay anthem. A J.S. Bach fugue in G minor will be heard in a special arrangement for cold and "fugue" season. And representing the folk genre, Men Alive will perform a rendition of "Danny Boy," in addition to the Swahili "Jambo Rafiki Yangu (Welcome My Friend)." Artistic director, conductor and ASCAP composer Rich Cook was born into a religious family. As far back as he can remember, "I was called to work in Christian ministry," he says. His talent led him to work as musical/artistic director for Trinity Broadcasting, Melodyland in Anaheim and Pat Robertson's presidential campaign in 1988. Additionally, he wrote music for televangelists Jim and Tammy Baker [sic] and performed original songs on their PTL program. Eight years ago, at the pinnacle of his career, Rich "experienced a spiritual implosion and could no longer go on with the masquerade." Years of therapy, exorcism and denial would no longer suffice. Rich came out and the aftermath left him devastated. He was fired from his high-profile job at a large Christian ministry, and his wife left the state with their youngest of three daughters. Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, the largest gay church in the world, opened its doors to Cook in 1995, hiring him to direct the music for a Christmas show. Finally, Cook said, he was able to integrate conducting sacred music with his true identity. Cook then became acquainted with the Turtle Creek Chorale, a prominent gay men's chorus with 250 members. Their success and commitment to high musical standards served as a major inspiration for the launching of Men Alive. Cook wants to continue to establish the concert season in the community and explore taking the group on tour. Men Alive will perform its "Summer Cruisin' " concert in July at South Coast Repertory and has plans to travel to Montreal next spring for the international GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses Inc.) Festival. Inspired by a "Will and Grace" episode in which Jack joins a gay chorus, and by a therapist's prescription for shyness, Michael Quintos, 28, joined the chorus in March 2002. Michael is one of those rare voice-types in the music world, a countertenor or male soprano. Michael was born in the Philippines, where he placed as a junior vocalist champion in "Star Search." When he turned 11, his family moved to Las Vegas. While performing in a junior high musical review, "someone in the audience yelled out 'faggot,' and it just shut me down," he said. Michael didn't sing again until 1993, when he attended Chapman University and performed at gay-pride festivities. Growing up, Michael's parents were often heard making "snide and disparaging remarks about homosexuals." He spent most of his young adulthood tortured and in constant fear of rejection. Nevertheless, he decided to come out to his parents two weeks before his choral debut. To his utter surprise, "they were completely accepting and supportive" and have since become two of his most devoted fans, he says. For Quintos, singing in Men Alive "was a catalyst to transform my parental relationship and has given me a better outlook on life." Men Alive juggles a delicate balancing act between entertainment and quality music. Although its mission is far from message-driven, "it certainly makes a political statement to watch 70 gay men stand up and sing everyday songs," Findlay says. Added Cook: "We're not trying to convince anybody that gay is OK, we're just a group of gay men that are OK." Men Alive WHAT: Orange County's gay men's chorus WHEN: 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Bourne Hall, St. George's Episcopal Church, 23802 Avenue de la Carlota, Laguna Hills CALL: (866) Men-Alive ONLINE: www.MenAliveChorus.org |