The first gay man elected to public office in California recalls that sticker on a map, reminding you that You Are Here, walking when they told you you would fall, you would fail, you should be ashamed. But you're here, walking through the fire and the cold, and without a doubt....You Are Here.

TESTIMONY - Music by Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics taken from and inspired by the It Gets Better Project

In writing TESTIMONY, Stephen Schwartz collaborated with Dan Savage, creator of the groundbreaking "It Gets Better Project." Schwartz has set the heartfelt words from the "It Gets Better" videos to music, weaving them into a breathtaking, emotional new masterpiece that speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place.

TESTIMONY was recorded and mixed by Leslie Ann Jones and Dann Thompson, with Judy Kirschner (assistant engineer) on The Scoring Stage at Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm, Ltd. company, Marin County, CA.  Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus under the direction of Dr. Timothy Seelig.

Testimony Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZRNL9ZnyM

Video Credits
Paul Saccone, Producer
Walt Shires, Director
Darya Gol, Assistant Director

Production Crew: Salvatore Catanzaro, Manny Gallegos, Roger Graham, William Henderson, Travis Huntington, Chris Kohler, Ramin Mehrabani, Kaveh Nikpour, Mike Tyson, and Randy Ubillos

Website - http://www.sfgmc.org
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/sfgmc
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/sfgmc
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

Testimony

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed at Grace Cathedral on Thursday, July 2, 2015, as part of the "Love & Justice" Evensong service, celebrating marriage equality. 

Can You Feel The Love Tonight

How Can I Keep From Singing (Live)

This holiday season, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is proud to release Festive!: Four Years of Favorites. Nineteen stunning tracks comprise this brand-new album, recorded between 2011-2015 and conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC’s Artistic Director & Conductor.

Festive! includes many holiday favorites, such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Silent Night,” “Coventry Carol,” “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Ding! Dong! Merrily On High.” “The Rose / Lo How A Rose E’re Blooming” is a breathtaking mashup created by Craig Hella Johnson combining Amanda McBroom’s pop song, famously recorded by Bette Midler for the 1979 film The Rose, and the classic 1609 German carol by Michael Praetorius, performed with three soloists. “O Magnum Mysterium” features world-renowned operatic soprano Melody Moore.

Many tracks from Festive! were recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, Masonic Auditorium and Nourse Theater, all located in San Francisco. The recording also features an array of collaborating groups, such as the Friction Quartet and Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS).

A major highlight of the recording is the world premiere of “New Year’s Carol,” with music by Ola Gjeilo and lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri. Commissioned by SFGMC member Curtis Ponzi in memory of his late mother and her deep love of Christmas, the piece was created for SFGMC’s 25th Annual “Home For The Holidays” concert at the Castro Theatre – an annual tradition that began as a gift to the community at the height of the AIDS pandemic. “New Year’s Carol” recognizes and embraces those who have been lost, but also looks forward, carrying their legacies in remembrance.

“Everyone looks for meaning in life – especially at the holidays” writes Silvestri, “New Year’s Carol” lyricist. “Sometimes loneliness is the result of seeking ‘comfort and joy’ in old images, icons and traditions. That is the time to find new meaning in both old and new things.” The frostbite of pain and loss gives way to the flower of hope and renewal. And in the end, “New Year’s Carol” urges us to let go of that pain to make room for new life – “that which is hollow in faith letting go.”

Festive!: Four Years of Favorites is available in physical formats through the SFGMC web store and digitally through all major retailers. 

Conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig
Produced by Dr. Timothy Seelig
Mixed, mastered and edited by Chris Kohler
℗ © 2015 Golden Gate Performing Arts, Inc. All rights reserved. 

This album would not be possible without the generous support of Bob Hermann & Dan Joraanstad, Nick Harper and Diane & Bill Harper.

Web: http://www.sfgmc.org
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Still, Still, Still

Holidays Are Here

Track 10 from the original cast recording of "I Am Harvey Milk." Words and music by Andrew Lippa. Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and recorded live in June 2013 at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco. 

San Francisco

Track 6 from the original cast recording of "I Am Harvey Milk." Words and music by Andrew Lippa. Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and recorded live in June 2013 at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco.

A Decent Society

The final track from the original live cast recording of "I Am Harvey Milk." Words and music by Andrew Lippa. Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, and recorded live in June 2013 at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco.

I Am Harvey Milk

Tired Of The Silence

Lavender Pen

Was I Wrong?

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus creates extraordinary musical experiences that inspire community, activism, and compassion.

SFGMC

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