The rich history of Auckland’s Gay and Lesbian Singers, best known as GALS, will be celebrated at a special concert next weekend marking twenty years in full, fabulous voice. GALS began when celebrated choreographer Michael Parmenter asked for a group of singers to get together to enhance the performance he was designing for the HERO party way back in 1992. It has since matured into a choral group of over 40 current members – with an estimated 200 people passing through its ranks over the years. Over the group’s 20 year history, it’s held innumerable concerts and private performances, members have sung at the Gay Games, taken part in and hosted the Australasian Out our concerts for celebrating community have been held in school halls and community centres,” says GALS committee member Catherine Lee. “We wanted to show that this is a big celebration by using a larger venue, and to signal that we have a quality concert for our audience.” The theme of the concert is of connections; between people and events in the choir’s history, and with the music. The music has been chosen to reflect this, so instead of being a chronological run-through of GALS’ favourite songs over the twenty years, music has been chosen that represents highlights for the choir, for example its association with a wide range of musicians and composers. A song gifted to the choir by the late lesbian musician Mahinaarangi Tocker, who shared her skills with the choir several times, is on the programme, as is one by ethnomusicologist Jeni Little, who has been a guest presenter and conductor at GALS workshops at their annual camp. New Zealand choral composer David Hamilton, whose generous association with the choir meant he has been awarded Life Membership, has been commissioned to write a piece of music that encapsulates the feelings of GALS as it heads into its next decades. Just one of the line-ups of GALS over the years Other connections are with performers who have been part of GALS concerts over many years. One of these is Marilyn Waring, and she will be co-MC of the night, along with the peerless David Steemson, who many followers of GALS will know from his antics on stage at previous concerts. Another treat is the inclusion of mezzo-soprano Carmel Carroll in a song, with backing from GALS. Past members have also been invited to take part in the celebrations, and will be joining GALS onstage in a massed choral song. You can buy tickets for GALS turns 20, Celebrate the Score, here Jacqui Stanford - 18th October 2012