OUR MISSION
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is a community choral ensemble of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies, dedicated to providing and performing an eclectic and entertaining offering of quality choral music that reflects the diverse nature of our community and serves to unite us with the wider community around us.
OUR HISTORY
In the spring of 1991, following a performance by the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus in Syracuse, a sign-up sheet was made available for people interested in forming a similar chorus in Syracuse. Originally the idea was that this was to be a mens chorus, but thankfully several courageous women added their names to the list. Planning meetings were held, and finally, a mixed chorus was formed.
In the late summer of 1991, the chorus met for their first rehearsal. Over thirty like-minded people attended the first rehearsal. Preparation for our first concert took several months, culminating with two sold out performances of our holiday concert in December of 1991. The chorus has been performing regularly ever since. Our numbers have grown considerably, as has our musical skill. In addition to our full-scale concerts, we have performed and continue to perform several road concerts throughout New York State.
OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
Music Director Brian Ackles
Brian Ackles is a veteran music educator and conductor with over thirty-six years of experience teaching, performing, and sharing music with others. As a conductor and educator, Ackles has taught a variety of vocal ensembles and general music classes at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Ackles is the music director of the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus starting Spring 2023, the choir director at the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, and guest conducts community choirs and local Junior and Senior High Music Festivals in the Central New York area.
Ackles is the vocal music teacher for Marcellus High School in Marcellus, New York, where his ensembles consistently receive top rankings at regional competitions and music festivals. Ackles graduated from Westminster Choir College and holds a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
In addition to his conducting duties, Ackles has been a clinician for regional in-services and state music conferences for New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Ackles’ research interests include supporting and implementing student-to-student collaboration in the classroom and musical independence in the rehearsal setting. In 2018, Ackles published an article in the Choral Journal presenting his new strategy for student-centered music education called The Agile Development Instructional Framework. With his monthly music education blog, Leading Voices, Ackles shared this new paradigm and other instructional strategies for the American Choral Directors Association on Choralnet.org.
As an active educator, conductor, and vocalist, Ackles is dedicated to promoting music’s intrinsic nature and transforming power. His goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where all ensemble members are welcomed and are excited to create a shared passion and understanding through musical excellence. Through these experiences, individual musicians become aware of their musical and personal gifts and share these insights with the ensemble and their audiences.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up workers to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea”.
Attributed to Antoine de Saint
