QUAD CITIES — Group singing is sweeping up the Quad Cities LGBTQ+ community this spring, with a “community singing” event Monday, a Pride pop-up choir coming together through May and June, and a Justice Choir already happening.
Monday night’s “Community Singing for Sanity” happens at Clock Inc., LGBT Community Center, 4102 46th Ave., at 6 p.m. “There is absolutely no musical experience required. All that is required is a desire to sing,” write organizers, explaining the event will involve simple songs that anyone can learn. Listeners are welcome too, the group says.
Then, starting May 4, a “Pride Pop-up Choir” for the Quad Cities will hold the first of four rehearsals, for a performance to take place at Quad Cities Pride Fest the evening of June 6. Anyone is welcome to join the choir, for rehearsals from 5 to 6:15 p.m. every Sunday in May except the 18th at First Presbyterian Church in Davenport.
“No auditions. No pressure. Just good vibes, great music, and a whole lot of PRIDE.,” write organizers. You can sign up for the choir, and share your desired vocal part as well as pronouns, through this link.
Already happening, with its first concert in November 2024, is the Justice Choir of the Midwest. The choir performers music with a social justice message, and its Nov. 10 debut featured a combination of slavery-era spirituals and contemporary protest songs, wrote the RC Reader.
The Justice Choir also performed a concert in March to help raise money for Tapestry Farms and its work on behalf of migrants.
The choir is led by Matthew Bishop, music director at First Presbyterian, who is also collaborating with Clock Inc. on the Pride Popup Choir.
Matt Bishop, director of the new Justice Choir and leader of the Pride Pop-up Choir
Several other communities throughout Illinois and Iowa have LGBTQ+ choirs, or social justice choirs, that perform at concerts year-round, including Pride events. Learn about them below, and follow the provided links to explore signing up:
- Carbondale, Ill.: This southern Illinois beacon of progressive thought began forming a new LGBTQ+ choir in January under the guidance of director Scott Johnson and the SIU Wesley Foundation.
- Chicago: The Windy City has four LGBTQ+ choruses, and its own Justice Choir. The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus formed in 1968s and this year plans “Wigs & Waffles” April 26 and “As If: The Gay ’90s” May 23-25. Windy City Performing Arts formed in 1983 and currently has two active vocal groups: he Windy City Gay Chorus and the Windy City Treble Quire. And the feminist lesbian Artemis Singers formed in 1990 and will host a concert and dance June 14.
- Des Moines: the Gay Men’s Chorus of Des Moines founded in 2001 and has a Proud n. Pink June concert planned for June 13-14.
- Iowa City, Ia.: The Quire of Eastern Iowa formed 30 years and will offer Community Singing event for teens ages 12 to 17 April 19. Iowa City also offers Iowa City Community Sing, which holds its next gathering April 26.
- Naperville; This Chicago suburb features Naper Voice, a social justice choir with the slogan, “Sing Well, Do Good.” Naper Voice hosts “Singing More Superpowers: American Composers Explore Humanity’s Highest Qualities” April 27.
- Western Iowa: Omaha’s River City Mixed Chorus formed in 1984 and welcomes Iowans. It will perform “Disney Pride in Concert” June 1
Queer choirs have a history rooted in providing a positive, safe form of visibility inspired by activism. The first-ever gay choir started in San Francisco in 1978, shortly after the assassination of LGBTQ+ activist leader Harvey Milk.
