Mission

The Maine Gay Men’s Chorus is dedicated to excellence in the choral arts. We are committed to providing a positive, productive, educational, social and entertainment experience for our members, friends and audience. Through our music, we strive to educate ourselves and the community at large by delivering the message of social acceptance and diversity.

Vision:

Be the premier community performing arts organization in Maine.

Chorus History:

The Maine Gay Men's Chorus was formed after the Boston Gay Men's Chorus presented a concert in Portland in the summer of 1992. At that time, a challenge was presented to the audience to form a chorus in Maine. Bruce Fithian, professor of music at USM, founded the chorus as a result of that challenge. Since that time the chorus has grown musically and artistically and has developed into a safe community for gay men to gather and interact. The chorus is currently directed by Art Kenne.

It is not easy being gay in parts of Maine, and so we take our message to different communities in the state whenever possible. The chorus has performed in over a dozen communities in Maine, as well as towns and cities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Florida, and California, and twice in Quebec, Canada. Our most recent outings included a joint concert in Montréal with Ensemble Vocal Ganymède (June 2009), and an appearance at a ceremony in Bangor marking the 25^th anniversary of the death of Charlie Howard (July 2009). Throughout our history, more than 225 men have sung with the chorus. 

The chorus is on sabbatical this season. Learn why here.

Touring Ensemble History: 

In November 2007, Art Kenne (then new to Maine from London, now Artistic Director) was asked to serve as Associate Director of MGMC and to form and direct a small touring group with members chosen from among the general chorus. The new Touring Ensemble was created in time to sing for the AIDS quilt display and the World AIDS day ceremony, both December 2007.