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Hi, I'm Pat McIntosh, Um, and producer for the glamour phones, Uh, Wellington's gay choir. And we're at Saint Andrews today for, um, one of our well, our big concert for the year, which is the celebrating the 30 years of homosexual law reform. It's something that we've we've wanted to do since last year with our programming, um, to really get on board So many events happening around in Wellington [00:00:30] and, um, this year with the rainbow community and so the suggestion was put forward with our programming is to do something really special and, um, celeb celebrate. So that's why we're all here today, and we've completely rainbow out. ST. Andrews, can you describe how Saint Andrews is looking? Um, we've got, um, rainbow helium balloons. We've got the Wellington's large gay flag draped across the organ. We've got, um, it's just looking so, so rainbow. I don't think I've ever seen any [00:01:00] of a place or rainbow is this, um and we've set up. Um, some large scale projection was the first time we've ever done it this way, where we've mapped into the actual, um, the century of the church. So, um, it's quite a big project. Um, with a to get this happening like this. Um, yeah, and so what images are going to be displayed into the church? So, um, we applied for a grant through the Wellington, um, culture Arts fund. And they gave us some funding to actually, [00:01:30] um, work with Gans to pull out all the images that people hadn't seen before and posters and then put that into the A V. So we've got we've got is that you've seen on pride NZ the David Henley. He's given us permission to use them. And, um, but I also wanted to bring out stuff that's just sitting in the archives at LA So that's all been used, um, to have all throughout the songs, we've got all this different, different imagery all coming up through it. So it's quite exciting. So that must have been [00:02:00] quite a huge research effort to actually go and track all those images down. Yeah, I've I've spent a few a few afternoons up there with Roger and Linda, and it's been fun. Um, I think the thing that really blew me away was the scrap books up there with all the newspaper articles from the Dominion Post. Um, and just just you can't help but just sit there and start reading. Um, I just can't believe, um just the enormity of, um, emotion with with the homosexual law reform [00:02:30] and in the months that it was going through and and looking at scrapbooks is where you really actually, it really hits you. Of what? You know, all the news. It was just constantly in the news, both sides. So, um, yeah, quite an emotional thing to do to research it all and then pull it all out. And then, of course, deciding what to put with what tracks and what songs and things, but, um, hugely important, I think. And we've got a lot of stuff now that's actually been digitised that I've got that then can be put up onto the web. So it's worked quite [00:03:00] well. And can you talk a wee bit about the songs that are going to be sung today? What? What's the programme like? Well, the big the big thing when we were programming was, um we decided that to ask Gareth for to, um, work with the glamour phones. He'd never worked with us before. And I'd worked with them on theatre productions. So, um, and Rachel also worked with them, Um, when she was at the N. So So the idea was to get a commission from Gareth, Um, that that captured what it [00:03:30] was like back then. Then there's sort of a big discussion what we were going to use and we decided, you know, he said, we need to get find some lyrics, whether that's a poem or something that he could write the music to. So then Roger helped helped us find, um he was giving us gay poetry books, and we were sort of looking through them all. And we came across one from Brent Coates called Naming Ourselves That Really struck us and also, uh, one from Phil Patterson. So during these days, so we sort of took them to Gareth and, um, he looked at them and was [00:04:00] inspired. He also I showed him the actually the five minute video that you'd made with the photographs. Um and yeah, that really got him. Got him into a place to write. Write this piece and it's really it's, you know, there's the big discussion. Do we write this big celebration anthem, Gay anthem, but it's actually, um I think everyone will be quietly surprised, Um, and taken with what he's come up with, Um, it's because it was hard. [00:04:30] It was hard for everybody. And I think Gareth's really captured that in the piece. So it's really beautiful. So tonight is the world premier. Yes, tonight is the world premier. And we've got Gareth, who's just flown back from Taiwan this afternoon, and he will be with us. And we've got some MP S coming and, um, yeah, special. Can you just describe, um, the glamour phones? How, How, how many voices and where did that come from? Um, the glamour phones. We've got about 50 to 60 members. Um, [00:05:00] in it. It's started as the home of phones with just the men. And then, in 2011, um, at the Asia Pacific Art Games, they decided to ask the woman to join. And, um, it's just grown from strength to strength. So it's a really strong, uh, Rainbow choir. Um, and I think that's because there's a lot of it's about community. It's about friendship. We've got. There's lots of different ages. Um, it's non addition auditioned, So that's quite a big thing. Um, you know, you don't [00:05:30] if you're thinking you're joining a choir and you go, I don't know whether I can pass that audition. Well, it's not. And it's more about the community. Um, you don't have to be able to read music. Um, and we just have lots of fun and, um, the sort of the whole I've sort of come on board the last couple of years from a theatre background. So I've sort of tried to bring those skills in and and get us even more glam where they glamouring And, um so the production values have sort of Each time we come out, we sort of raise them up a bit. And [00:06:00] it's all it's all just just about sharing the love. Really? And finally what What does this concert tonight mean to you? Um, it's been it's been quite an emotional thing because I wasn't I wasn't out back in. Um, I just about I was just about I came out, probably. Oh, I actually run away overseas with my girlfriend. So, um, but it only just after a couple of months after the bill passing [00:06:30] and made that decision, but still didn't come out with anybody, um, till about five years after that. So, um, it's been quite emotional. I think it's to be able to pull everything out from the gas. And for people to see it is, is, is, um, is something that I've always wanted to do, and I think that's great. And to tie it in with the glamour phones, Um, it's just music is a beautiful way to to do a message and to put the imagery with music. I think it's just, um it's something that I just love [00:07:00] doing. So it's been, um, yeah, I don't know how to explain it, Gareth. It's just it's been It's Yeah, I'm taping my heart. So, um, and we get to take this to Parliament, so there's going to be on the sixth of July. Um, we'll be singing the three songs. One of them will be Gareth's, and there'll be another two songs that will sing, and we'll have the images projected into the Grand Hall. So that was something for me being a little bit of a gorilla political person. Um, I [00:07:30] wanted to put put the protesters that protested back at Parliament, and I wanted to. I actually wanted to project them at the front of parliament, but that, you know, that wasn't gonna happen. So I've sort of got snuck in the in the back door, and we're going to put them in the Grand Hall on the ceiling. So that's sort of quite a lovely full circle, I think, to bring them back the the laws passed. And, um, all all those placards that you guys wrote years ago are going to end up back in Parliament on the ceiling. So I quite like that, [00:08:00] but yeah, I love the singing. I mean, I love coming together with, um, gay and lesbian people and and, um, singing. There's something pretty wonderful about that. It's a lovely thing to be doing on a Thursday night and then doing it. You know, these performances every now and again. How long have you been involved with this choir? I was a member of the home of phones when it first got started. I think right from the beginning. So Gosh, I'm trying to work out what that would be five years ago, I think now, six years ago and so what drew [00:08:30] you to the choir. Um, I we my partner and I used to live in the United States, and we were part of a gay men's chorus in Tucson, Arizona. Um, and that was, you know, a fabulous thing, too. And it was really just as we moved back. Uh, Hamish Aladi and a group of other people like Mark Berry got the homophones together. And so it was a really nice way of getting back into Wellington, having been away for so long. What does tonight's performance mean to you? Well, I mean, of course, it's, um, [00:09:00] the 30 year anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act. Um, so that is, um, a wonderful thing to do. Of course, it's, um we're all sort of shell shocked as a result of what happened in Orlando, Florida, um, as well. And it it's a reminder about not being complacent about, uh, our physical safety. Um, and of course, the the the deaths are enormously tragic and [00:09:30] just horrific. Um, but it's part of a I mean for me. I mean, it's just a reminder. It's part of a syndrome of anti gay lesbian queer people movements around the world. So in the past, couple of years, for example, there have been 200 bills introduced into legislatures around the United States trying to reduce the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender um, people. Um, and so, unfortunately, we still live in a culture where, um [00:10:00] there is hatred and antagonism. Lots to celebrate, lots to be enormously positive about, Um, but it is, um, a reminder that that our our personal safety is jeopardised. One of my friends, um, Stella Duffy was actually interviewed on Radio New Zealand this morning. She's got a wonderful blog where she talks about Phoenix sing up again, Um, which is, you know, part of what we do. I've been working with the glamour phones for just over [00:10:30] a year now. This is my third concert series. Um, I have a long history of conducting orchestras and even the odd classical choir. Uh, but this is really my first foray into the community and gay choir world, and I just happened to take a rehearsal one night, and I loved it so much. It was so much fun that when the job came up, I really felt I had absolutely no choice but to apply for it. I thought, If only I could get that job really didn't think I would. But we clicked and I did get the job, and the rest is history. It's just been an amazing year of of getting to know these [00:11:00] great great people and making some wonderful music. So what are the differences between, uh, a choir and a community choir? A community choir is pretty much open to anyone, so there's no requirements in terms of ability, whether you can or can't read music. Whether you've got any background in music at all, you just turn up and have a sing. And whether you're brilliant or terrible, it makes absolutely no difference. There's a place for everyone in a community choir. How was that like to conduct challenging and fun in equal [00:11:30] measure? You really have to think very hard about how you pace rehearsals. Make sure that you're not letting anyone phase out, either because it's too hard or because it's too easy. We have some very capable musicians in this choir and some people who don't read music at all, but who have a great musical soul and I to make sure that a rehearsal works for all of those different people, so that can be quite challenging and quite tiring. But at the same time, it means that you get a really honest musical response from people. And that's just the best feeling in the world that they go straight to the heart [00:12:00] of the piece. They understand the emotion of it, and that's what they give you without any musical preconceptions. And so being a rainbow choir, does that change the kind of repertoire or influence the repertoire that you see? Yes, it does. To an extent. I think that's something I'm really learning and coming to terms with as I as I grow with the choir. Uh, there's a balance between making sure that the music that you pick reflects the choir and what the choir means. And a lot of that obviously is about sexual identity and, uh, but also about freedom [00:12:30] of expression and community and family and belonging. And those things all go together at the same time. I want to give them musical challenges and opportunities to to sing types of music that they wouldn't necessarily come across. That's one of the reasons I think they gave me. The job was that I had a classical background and could bring a different flavour of music. So I really work hard to try to make sure that the choir gets a bit of a bit of gay anthem, a bit of splendour and uh, a bit of drag if they want, [00:13:00] but also some genuinely, um, alternative music types, whether it's folk music, world music, um, classical music, and then balance that across a programme. So can you talk about tonight's programme? Why? Why is tonight's programme special? This is a really important concert for the choir. It's, uh, marking 30 years since the Homosexual Law Reform Act came into force. It was a massive moment in New Zealand history for the people of New Zealand, um, whether they're part of the gay community or not, [00:13:30] and we're really thrilled and honoured that we could programme our concerts this year to coincide with that anniversary. Um, so there's a lot of music in the programme that relates to 1986 whether it's Cindy Law or crowded house. Um, so there's a lot of memory of the time. There are also pieces that are a little bit more broadly about gay rights in New Zealand. So, for instance, we're singing Poke Cara, which, of course, is a hugely well known and loved Kiwi classic. But it was, um, Imprompt sang in an impromptu fashion [00:14:00] in the houses of Parliament when the marriage equality, um, legislation was passed a couple of years ago and then possibly most importantly, we're seeing a new work by Gareth Farr, which we've commissioned especially for this occasion, which is, uh, a marking the celebration and also Commemorating some of the more difficult times that the gay community has gone through in its effort to obtain equal rights. Can you tell me a bit more about Gareth's piece? Gareth's piece is absolutely amazing. I think we're really lucky that he's taken the approach he [00:14:30] has. I think Gareth is a composer who's really known for, uh, quite large, complex, often bombastic, quite striking music, a lot of ethnic influence in his music, Um, and he's taken a completely different, different approach to this song. He's dug into his own personal history and his memories of what it was like being a kid in 1986. Um, and a lot of it is about memories of not being happy of being, uh, in darker times, uh, feeling persecuted. And he's taken those feelings into this [00:15:00] piece and and created something which is incredibly heartfelt, quite painful. And there's a part of it is almost quite scary. You sit in the audience and you can feel what he was feeling all those years ago. He's picked a couple of great poems, one by Philip Patton and one by Brent Coots, who are both gay poets from New Zealand. And their words are full of similar feelings. Um, feelings of pain, of fear, Uh, and then also a reclamation of identity, which is very important. [00:15:30] And Gareth just combined those words with his great sense of melody and of structure to create a piece that is pretty unique. I think we're incredibly lucky to have got this from him on a personal level. What does tonight mean for you? Oh, gosh, um, I'm a little nervous. This is a really major event for the choir. It's the first of five concerts that we're doing, culminating in a performance in Parliament, uh, marking the Homosexual Law Reform Act. Um, and for me, it's it's about communicating [00:16:00] the choir's personality and identity and in in the role of a leader of of this amazing group of people. So I'm I'm nervous that I can, that I do the best job that I can for them and that I reflect everything that they want to say about the meaning of this incredible event for New Zealand in terms of New Zealand history and the gay community's history. But also I just love working with this choir and I. I really just want to get out there and have some fun and and see them sing. And hopefully they can put all of their nervousness aside and [00:16:30] just come out and have a great time. And there's nothing like the feeling of standing in front of this choir when suddenly they will start dancing and they put a smile on their face. And just this immense joy and passion and love comes from the choir. And hopefully, the message that we send away at the end of tonight's concert is that, yes, there have been dark times and yes, there continue to be dark times for many people around the world and in New Zealand. But the best thing that we can do is love each other and show that love in as [00:17:00] many different ways as we can. And if we send that message tonight, then I'll be a very happy person. My name's Kathy Tea. Uh, I got involved in the choir through friends. Actually, um, I was new to Wellington, and other people who'd lived here a long time told me that the choir existed. Um, my name is Kate II. I was asked to join the choir. Hi, I'm Laura Greenfield. Um, originally from London. And I joined this choir when I arrived here. Um, because [00:17:30] that's, you know, I was in a choir in London, so I wanted to almost I wanted to replicate my life in London a little bit. So that's why I've joined the phones. So what is it about the G gramophones? What? What What kind of draws you to this one? Well, I like minded people, really, And singing. I love singing. I mean, it's it's just it's a fun. It's a fun group to be part of, Really. It's a very warm and inclusive group of people. [00:18:00] Um, it's a sense of community, but also because there's no requirement to audition you can just be part of the choir. Um, and if you're somebody like myself who doesn't read music, I can sing and enjoy myself and be with like-minded people and not have the pressure of of having to try and do something I can't. So without reading music, what is it like to to learn a new piece? Say, like Garrett's piece tonight? Sure. So the, um, practises are are great. I mean Thursday nights, a great practise for us, but also because there's sound files [00:18:30] available to us. So I think it's the It's the inclusiveness of this choir, which is really its best feature. I mean, not only our musical director, very inclusive of all the different ways that people learn to sing and express themselves. But the actual structure of it enables people to those people who do read music well and those people who don't but still join together to sing. So tonight's performance is, uh, honouring the 30th anniversary of homosexual law reform. What does tonight's performance [00:19:00] mean for you? Oh, well, I remember when the when the law went through, I was just out of school and yeah, it was a It was a really different time. I think New Zealand society has changed since then for the better. Um well, uh, was it me? I wasn't here 30 years ago, but, um, I still can appreciate what happened and, um, the struggles that people went through and how euphoric it must have been when it all happened. But, you know, [00:19:30] just like I think this this, um, concert tonight is going to be incredibly emotional. You know, this time last week, we we didn't have the the Orlando Massacre hadn't happened. And I think just it just shows like law reform. Fantastic. But still hatred around the world. Still a long way to go and yeah, so really don't feel back to square one, but I just think celebrate. But also remember that it's not as easy for for many, many other people in loads of other countries in the world. [00:20:00] Um, although I'm actually a Kiwi by birth, I was living, um, in London at the time that the, um, law reform went through, but it still feels really important. And it still feels very much recognising the fact that, um, that New Zealand has recognised the right to be who you are, um, but once again, just very conscious of what's happened in the recent history and the fact that there is that choice to be yourself here, but yeah, really conscious that other [00:20:30] places in the world just don't have that. And yeah, I I'm anticipating that it will be quite emotional for the audience as well as those of us who are singing. Yeah, What does being a part of the glamour phones mean to you? It's a huge part of my life. Um, for me, it's, um, a place where I've been able to find my voice. I hadn't sung in a choir since I was really young at, um intermediate school, and so it's allowed me to find my voice, but more than that, it's become a place that, for me, is [00:21:00] a huge part of my community. And, um, it's somewhere. I come each week for friendship, um, and support when I enjoy the social aspects of the choir as well. But, um, it's it's much more than just a choir. It's a huge, supportive aspect of my life as well. What's so special about a rainbow choir? I think, in a rainbow choir you can be who you want to be without any fear of judgement. And nobody, um, [00:21:30] nobody judges you for who you are. You just are who you are. You can be who you want to be, and nobody cares. We We're just all who we are. Really? What's your favourite piece that you perform? Oh, jeepers, that's a really hard question. Um, I I'm really enjoying this time singing songs that, um, reflect countries all around the world where, um, homosexuality is a crime and where, you know, people can receive the death sentence for being homosexual [00:22:00] and so singing, um, the Arabic song that we're singing and a Zimbabwean song, um Hozier take me to church from which has written about Russia. I just I I It makes me realise what a lucky country we're in. I mean, we I, I feel blessed to live here rather than in some of those other places where life could be quite difficult and very different. What does tonight's performance mean to you? Um, tonight's performance. I guess [00:22:30] it's part of that whole thing. Um, realising that, um, you know, we are lucky to be where we are that we are in a country that it still amazes me that it's only 30 years since homosexual law reform. And, you know, I can't imagine what it was like growing up. Um, I'm I'm certainly older than 30 but I can't imagine what it was like growing up in the generation before me how difficult that must have been for people. And I feel like there's a part of this concert that acknowledges that and the struggle that lots of people had had to go [00:23:00] through to get to where we are today. Well, if you know Saint Andrews, um, down, down at the far end, where the altar is, they've got the place decked in rainbow flags and balloons and beautiful purple lights and blue lights on the ceiling. So the place is quite atmospheric and looking very festive. Now, I've heard that some of the images that are that are going to be shown tonight, um, are from LA Yes, Well, um, Pat was in LA looking for material for this [00:23:30] concert. Um, and she was particularly interested in images that she could project on the ceiling and on the walls, et cetera. So, um, she's found posters and newspaper clippings and photos and that sort of thing, so she took a lot of images of that. So I'm looking forward to seeing what she's chosen. And the other thing she was looking for for poems from the gay and lesbian community in New Zealand, from gay poets to lesbian poets. And so she took away some of those and two of them she's chosen to be has been passed on to Gareth Far, who's turned them into words for his music. [00:24:00] So so so are there many, uh, lesbian gay transgender rainbow pots? Well, there seemed to be, and there were more than I thought there were. And, um, we just had I just picked what I could find of the New Zealand material on our shelves. And, um, there were about half a dozen sort of nine or 10 volumes, and, um, it was a matter of just going through those and seeing what was there. There were a lot of overseas pirates, too, but of course she's wanting New Zealand, so that was more appropriate. So that's and to do with law reform and the whole, um, changes in society [00:24:30] that we've gone through over the last 30 years, now. Um, so this is part of that reflection and part of the celebration. So reflecting on, uh, your personal experiences, What does tonight mean to you? Um, I think it's it's but it's sort of it's not as it's not as though we've done 30 years now. I think it's sort of more like saying, OK, we've marriage. Equality has gone through. What list of what's left is there to do. And also, um, sort of, how can we improve [00:25:00] our community and make it more responsive and reflective and support of one another? You just think of what happened in Orlando. Um, you know, these these things can happen all over the place, and they still do, and no doubt they'll continue in the future. But we need to be around to support one another and to respond and perhaps make it easier for young people to come out and to be confident in their sexuality and in their relationships. So, you know, that's our task for the future. The church has been transformed into a concert venue tonight, [00:25:30] uh, simply by, uh, using the iconic image of the rainbow. Um, some clever lighting and, um, the warmth and friendship that our friends and families are sharing as they come to, uh, prepare for our concert tonight. It's a very special night. Yeah, Yeah, it is. Uh, we're a group of people who love to sing hen and choir. And we're also, um, from the gay and lesbian transgender community. [00:26:00] And, uh, that makes the bond that we share as singers. Uh, special. Um, we're a bit different than the standard um, soprano alto tenor bass choir, And that we have, uh, a woman who sing in the tenor section and, uh, other other combinations just where people feel comfortable within their vocal range. Um, and the type of music we sing is often quite varied as well. So [00:26:30] what drew you to the choir? Oh, I've I've always loved to have a sing. I'm one of the ones in the choir who don't read music. Um, I can follow music, but I don't read music. And, um, I, uh, work situation stabilised a bit. And I had a a bit more, uh, free time. And, um, it's a great way to meet people and to, uh, you know, enjoy something you do. So Thursday night we rehearse uh, here in Wellington. And, uh, we do, uh, two concert seasons. Uh, you know, two terms [00:27:00] a year. So, um, it's a It's a great way of, uh, leaning off some steam and and enjoying a good sing along. Yeah. So tonight is marking the 30th anniversary of homosexual law reform in 86. Yeah. How far have we come? Well, interestingly, uh, when the legislation came in, I was one of the people who, uh, my employer, I'm an army officer, And, uh, they had an exemption under the legislation at that time. So, uh, when I enlisted in 1988 the defence force had an exemption, uh, around the employment of homosexuals. [00:27:30] Even at that time, Um, however, it's an exemption. They've never, uh, chosen to exercise. And so, uh, they just, uh, follow the spirit of the law, even though they legally had an exemption related to the, um, enlistment of, uh, of of gays and lesbians. So, uh, it's it's even special. I'm, uh, feel privileged to work in a defence force. That is, uh, very uh uh, um a gay gay safe place. Uh, and it's great to see these days, [00:28:00] Uh, openly gay people turning up and wanting to be recruited into our defence force. What does tonight mean for you personally? Well, a concert is important. Um, but after the, um, spontaneous coming together for the vigil on Monday night after the Orlando um, tragedy. Uh, the rehearsal on Thursday was very special. And, uh, the whole spirit of what we are marking [00:28:30] and, uh is really important because we can. In New Zealand, there are places where that clearly isn't the case. There's still hatred and bigotry. Um, so the choir feel very strongly that this is also, uh, a concert, a mark of respect for those people. Um, you know, 22 military colleagues were killed in that, um, in that tragedy. And, um uh, yeah, it's here to, um here to mark that. Personally, I think is [00:29:00] something III I would be thinking about as I think so. Gareth, your piece tonight. Tell me about it. Um, it's, uh, the most, uh, two fantastic poems that were written in the eighties. Uh, and it's the first time I've ever written a piece about this particular topic of of the homosexual law reform or in fact, anything politically gay overtly, Uh, and it's such an exciting thing to be asked to do on such a momentous [00:29:30] occasion. So how did you start? How did you start the process? Well, I I've written quite a lot of vocal music over the last 10 years or so, and I'm It's now my favourite thing to do because the journey is set out for you and also the structure, which is kind of the one of the most difficult things for for composers. Well, for this composer, anyway, um, and it's so exciting to be able to work with somebody else's ideas and then try and, um, add a musical dimension to it without, [00:30:00] uh, trying to upstage the words. Uh, so it's that it's that constant balance between, you know, honouring the words, Um, and in this case, they're they're astonishing words. And yet having my personality be in there. So how hard was it for you to work on something so kind of personal? Because, I mean, you you grew up through through this time and this this you Yeah, I guess. I guess my immediate reaction was that I knew that this is a celebration night, and I know the sort of songs that the this fabulous [00:30:30] choir, uh, love to do and will be doing tonight. And I thought that that my job would be to I don't know, kind of cover the darker element and the more sombre element, uh, that it just so that we don't forget how difficult things were and in fact, still are in so many countries and here as well. And it's, you know, we're not out of the fire yet. So so So why is tonight significant for you? Um well, I have lived my entire [00:31:00] adult life adult out life, Um, since that moment of homosexual law reform. So I feel very lucky. Uh, and I you know, that's that's part of my inspiration for doing it. And tonight, um, yeah, I, I just again, I feel lucky. And I know that that, um even 10 years before people 10 years younger that are older than me had a much rougher time of it. Uh, so it's It's [00:31:30] the most amazing thing to to know that we've been sort of groundbreaking in this area. This country has been groundbreaking for 30 years. OK.
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