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Your fresh flower professionals
A song of good cheer
JACKSON'S FLOW ERS
P o r t l a n d G a y M e n ’s C h o r u s g e ts i n t o t h e h o l i d a y s p i r i t
3804 N. E. San dy Blvd. P ortland, OR 97232
(503) 282-0657 • 1 (800) 303-0657
P A H A www.JacksonsFlowers.com Mov^Hearts™
T
he Portland Gay
Men’s Chorus has
a special surprise
for us as it opens
its 21st season. Its pop
ular and talentecfartis-
tic director, Bob
Mensel, is on
sabbatical
and tem
porarily has
passed the baton
to an extraordi
nary local talent,
Ray Elliott.
“When I was
looking to replace
myself for my sabbati
cal, Ray was really the only choice
that came to mind,” he muses.
“This is because there are so many
different things a guest conductor
needs to do to be successful. Ray
completely fit the bill.”
Elliott— a tall, handsome man
from Portland with an impressive list of cre
dentials, a resonant baritone voice and an
infectious enthusiasm for music—seems more
than able to handle the task. An active
arranger of choral music, his past work has res
onated with singers and audiences alike.
Although he is a busy man these days, the
upcoming holiday concert remains center stage
in his thoughts.
“My schedule’s pretty crazy,” Elliott admits,
shuffling files of music sheets and notes in a
thin briefcase. “I’m directing four different cho
ruses at the same time.”
In addition to serving as guest director for
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Elliott directs of
the noted Satori Men’s Chorus and the Port
land State University Community Chorus. He
also recently formed and directs Confluence, a
new gay and lesbian chorus out of Salem. He
has a degree in music from Portland State Uni
versity and has sung with many local groups
including the David York Ensemble and the
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus.
But beyond his academic and musical cre
dentials lies a lifetime’s affirmation that music
is a saving influence.
“After I graduated from high school, I
became very depressed,” Elliott recalls. “Then a
friend invited me into the chorus, and the cho
rus brought music back into my life.”
Elliott’s eyes bum with a hazel fire as he
speaks of the power music holds over him.
“Now, music is a big part of my life. Without it,
I’d go postal.”
When approached by Mensel about filling
in for him while on sabbatical, Elliott leapt at
the chance. “It’s always been one of my dreams
to direct a gay chorus,” he smiles. “It is just pure
joy to be conducting a group of such fine men.”
The chorus is the fourth-oldest gay-identi
fied chorus in the United States and now
boasts about 100 voices— quite a distinction for
Portland music, gay or straight. It performs four
major concerts during its season and many out
reach performances.
“Lately, we’ve been doing more outreach
programs because of Measure 9," Elliott points
out. The chorus worked overtime making
appearances at rallies and fund-raisers across
the state to help defeat the anti-gay measure.
Many who know PGM C’s music, either as
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participants or as audience
members, know how unique
the chorus is. Comparing a
gay men’s chorus to a
straight or mixed group,
Elliott says: “It’s a very differ
ent type of focus. The mem
bers have a common bond. That makes it eas
ier to make music together.”
Locally, PGMC has sung alongside other
groups such as the Portland Lesbian Choir,
Bridges and Satori. But as a member of the Gay
and Lesbian Association of Choruses, it also
has worked with gay and lesbian music groups
from around the world. Next year’s pride con
cert in June, “Men with Attitude,” will feature
the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, and PGMC
will go to Colorado to sing with that group in a
kind of exchange program.
Elliott began working on the “Holiday Spir
it!" concert in early August, collaborating with
Mensel to choose a selection of music both
within PGMC tradition and uniquely flavored
with Elliott’s directorial style. “Ray has
designed a wonderful holiday concert that will
be a real treat for everyone,” Mensel says.
Elliott adds: “This year’s concert is a mix of
different types of holiday music. The chorus
has a tradition of singing from the heart, and
this concert will be no exception.”
The concert will feature music reflecting
the traditions of Thanksgiving, Winter Sol
stice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the
new year. It includes traditional songs and con
temporary renditions, including the PGMC
classic "Winter for Awhile” by local composer
Kate Campbell.
The concert is a great place to take a date
or your family. Kids particularly enjoy the
always-popular singalong.
“Anyone will be able to come to the con
cert and find something they like,” Elliott says.
When asked what his favorite piece of the con
cert is, he grimaces the way most artists do.
“It’s so hard to choose one over the others,”
he resists. “There is a piece called ‘Yuletide
Fires.’ It’s one of those lush, heart-tugging, mel
low a cappella songs.
“But I also like the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from
Soulful Messiah. It’s a lot of fun. " i n
H oliday S pirit ! plays 8 p.m . Dec. 16 and
2 p . m . Dec. 17 at Reed College’s Kaul Auditori
um, 3203 S . E . Woodstock Blvd. Tickets are $12-
$ 2 0 from Fastixx.
GLENN W illiams unites poetry, prose, plays,
periodica and pom in Portland.
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9900 S.W . Wilshire Street • Portland, Oregon 97225
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
1126 SW PARK AVENUE
228-7219
Celebrate Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship
A service for the young at heart.
All children are invited to be actors
in the retelling of the Christmas Story.
10:00 p.m. Concert
10:30 p.m. Candlelight Service
A traditional evening service of carols,
anthems, scripture and sermon.
Rev. Patricia Ross preaching.
An open, affirming church where everyone
is welcome — incluiling straight, lesbian,
gay, bisexual and tramgerufer people.
K a th erin e * s
B o d y P ie r c in g
S a lo n