This Easter over 200 gay and lesbian singers will descend on Auckland for the Out and Loud Choral Festival. Auckland's GALS choir It's set to be the choral event of the year. Gay and lesbian choirs from Cairns, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and North America are on their way over for the festival. Auckland's Gay and Lesbian Singers are hosting the event, which is a first for New Zealand. The climax of the fest is the Gala Concert on Easter Sunday in the Auckland Town Hall. The concert will be special for several reasons, GALS Chairperson Jan Suckling tells GayNZ.com. "We'll be conducted by Dr Karen Grylls, the musical director of the NZ Youth Choir and Voices NZ - she has a world class reputation. We'll sing a work by David Hamilton specially composed for this festival, featuring the newly refurbished Town Hall organ played by Dr Indra Hughes - another world class artist. This will be a world premiere and GALS wrote the lyrics. "You will hear over 200 gay and lesbian choristers singing together – which will be amazing," Jan adds. "It'll also be a unique opportunity to hear nine gay and lesbian choirs singing individually including the Homophones from Wellington." Kiwi songbirds in harmony For years, Auckland's GALS was the only gay/lesbian choir in New Zealand – so they cheekily marketed themselves as the best gay and lesbian choir in NZ. But over the last couple of years two other gay and lesbian choirs were set up: the Homophones in Wellington and Gays and Lesbians of Waikato in Hamilton. "We are delighted that they are both coming to Out and Loud," says Jan. "This festival is an opportunity to showcase New Zealand, Australian and American gay and lesbian choral talent and a unique chance for Aucklanders to come hear us all sing in the Auckland Town Hall." The Out and Loud Choral Festival goes from Friday 2 April to Sunday 4 April 2010. The gala concert is at 5pm on Easter Sunday in the Auckland Town Hall. For ticketing details and further information, check the festival's official website. Matt Akersten - 15th March 2010