Over the years there have been other ethnically-based choral groups, but we have little doubt that the GAPA Men's Chorus has become the longest lasting and most enduring organization of its kind. Celebrating over 20 years of accomplishments, the Chorus was formed in 1989 to provide a showcase for the vocal music talents of gay & bisexual Asian & Pacific Islander (API) men. Particularly effective in outreaching to the mainstream Asian Pacific population, as well as the broader LGBT community, the Chorus promotes GAPA's goals by highlighting diversity and gay Asian Pacific visibility at its every appearance.
The Chorus made its stage debut at the GAPA Talent/Untalent Show in November 1989. Since then we've produced our own shows with a full repertory of songs; we've also sung at memorials and membership meetings, conferences and festivals, political fundraisers and inaugural celebrations, banquets and birthday parties. We’ve sung in concert halls, Chinese restaurants, church settings, meeting rooms and the Grand Rotunda at City Hall; outdoors at Civic Center, Yerba Buena Gardens, and a cemetery in Colma; local venues in Berkeley, Oakland, San Jose and the greater Bay Area, as well as further afield in Los Angeles, Seattle and Montreal. In addition to English, we've sung songs in Hawaiian, Cebuano, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indonesian, Navajo, Macedonian, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew and Latin, among others. We've sung opera, pop hits, folk songs, and holiday tunes; gospel to Gershwin, Disney to doo wop, Beach Boys to Broadway, and we still haven't exhausted all the possibilities out there.
Exciting things are in store for the Chorus and we hope you can join us. The Chorus meets every Monday night from 7:00 to 9:00 and joining is a painless, audition free process. If you're interested in developing your vocal talents in a warm and relaxed atmosphere, there's a place for you here. Gay & bisexual Asian Pacific men at all skill levels are welcome. To get involved or find out more information, please email: gapachorus@aol.com. We look forward to your participation.
