LGCSF HISTORY CORNER - 1982
Our spring concert was called Romance and Rhythm, with the guest conductor Gary Miller of New York City Gay Men's Chorus.  Then in June was the Pride Concert at the Civic Center Auditorium.  In September was the first West Coast Choral Festival, a marathon 12-chorus concert event coordinated by us.  Then all of the singers sang "Testament of Freedom" at the closing ceremonies off the first Gay Games.  Our fall concert was called Harmonic Harvest and we were again guests of SFGMC in their Now Sing With Hearts Aglow (III).  This was a year of change and growth for the chorus.  In our first three years, we generally did more classical music than popular, and the chorus was wanting to do more popular music.  Our director, Robin Kay, preferred to work in the classical repertoire, and consequently resigned as our director.  Next week 1983.

LGCSF HISTORY CORNER - 1983
Since our first director, Robin Kay, stepped down last year, Sherrin Lloyd, a member of the chorus served as Interim Director during a nationwide search for a permanent conductor.  Our first performance of the year was Sound Waves, performed in San Francisco and Oakland to benefit the K.S./AIDS Foundation, Operation Concern, and the Pacific Center.
Next in June was the Pride Concert at the Warfield Theatre. This was a financial disaster and this began the chain of events that ultimately resulted in our separation from Golden Gate Performing Arts.

Over the next few months we sought a new, unsalaried director, applied to the Capp Street Foundation to serve as our financial non-profit, tax exempt umbrella, and held a number of fundraisers.

First was Bountiful Buffet, a happening comprised of buffet, bar, door prizes, silent auction, and entertainment by us and some guest professional artists.  Next was Toast of the Town, a cabaret evening featuring us, some local artists, and prizes.  In December, we were again guests of SFGMC in Now Sing with Hearts Aglow (IV), and introduced Matt O'Grady as our new Director.  We learned to "move" with the number "Fruitcake", which stopped the show.  The concert was named "Outstanding Concert of the Year" for the third consecutive year by the Cable Car Awards (see 1981) which was then retired from eligibility.

Our spring concert was called Our Time and Place and featured the music of Scott Joplin. Then we performed at the Cable Car Awards show. This awards show was sort of like a gay version of the Academy Awards. The awards were given to individuals, events, organizations, athletes, disc jockeys, etc. 

Next in June was the Pride Concert at Davies Symphony Hall which was the first major production we handled alone. Then we sang for Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

Our fall concert was called Sing! Rhythm of Life and we ended the year as guests of SFGMC in their Holiday show Now Sing with Hearts Aglow.

The chorus began in January 1980 under the name, "The San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Men's Community Chorus." The chorus initially received financial assistance from Golden Gate Performing Arts, which we were part of along with the San Francisco Gay Freedom Gay Marching Band & Twirling Corps (known today at the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band) and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. On May 17, 1980, we presented our "Premiere Performance" along with the Lambda Pro Musica orchestra. We then participated in the joint "Gay Musical Celebration at Grace Cathedral" on June 27 and marched in the Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 29. Our fall concert was held on September 27 at Mission High School. Our first artistic director was Robin Kay. 

Next time: the chorus in 1981.