Besides all the theater performances at the Orlando International Fringe Festival there are real gems to be found for free at the outdoor stage. Between shows I stumbled upon the Orlando Gay Chorus. I heard them as I was looking for a food truck, but thoughts of food drifted away, and I walked towards the music.
After the Pulse nightclub shooting, I heard the gay chorus perform many times. Seated in front of me where sign language interpreters and solo singers who later f=got up to signor sing. One singer got herself ready backstage for her solo performance with the whole chorus as backup.
There was also some exuberant dancing in front of the stage which was well choreographed. The conductor who has pulled this group together as a powerhouse singing group is unfortunately moving on soon. Hopefully his replacement will understand the legacy and keep inspiring this group to new heights.
The bottom line is that I had a fabulous time hearing the Gay Chorus again. Their harmonies feel as strong as ever and the added movement of the dance routines was an added bonus. A few weeks after Fringe ended, I saw the Gay Chorus again at the United Methodist Church in Downtown Orlando. It was the 10 year anniversary since the Pulse Nightclub shooting and they sang at a memorial service. Their rendition of Everybody’s Got a Pulse was transcendent and so needed in our times of division and hatred.