Hey Guys,

Are you ready for the 80's? I just wanted to share a few quick thoughts with you as we gear up for the final month of our 80's show.

First off I wanted to thank all of you so much for working so hard with me on the movements and our music. This past weekends retreat was a blast and some good things are starting to happen. I feel very privileged to stand up in front of you and be a part of making this a great show.

But that is also part of the reason I am writing. Much of this is still very new to me. I have not studied music or dance and even more so instructing things to people as musically gifted as all of you is very daunting for me. I am learning a lot on the fly and it is still very much a challenge for me. But singing with this chorus for about 6 years now I have learned to make a few observations. So one thing I would like your input on is, what motivates you? Why do you sing with GMCH? Standing in front of you I perceive a lack of energy or motivation. Perhaps it is a lack of confidence. Perhaps you just don't love the music. James and I and many of the leaders of the chorus want this to be a fun show for you. It should be a fun show. If we get all the notes right and movements right it will be a good show. But you guys are so much better than "just a good show."

From up front, I can see the seeds of a GREAT show. Each of you has the musical talent. Each of you has the movement ability. I've already seen it and heard it. Maybe it is just in small doses so far, but I know it is there. I would like to know what I need to be or what we as a chorus need to do to help you get over that line. I apologize if I ever seem frustrated, it isn't because you aren't good. It isn't about the right notes or rhythms now, it is about you singing out with all your heart and conviction. You all are doing very well. I only get frustrated because you guys are tantalizingly close to a great show. It is hard to conduct confidence. It is impossible to choreograph energy. We can get all the notes right and all the movements right, but that won't make this show amazing. Your conviction, your confidence and your energy is what will make it great. I know because I have seen you do it in the past. I've seen you dance the 60's show. I've seen the tear stained faces hug me as they leave Jones Hall and simply whisper the name of a song "Angel Beside Me" and not much else because they were just that moved. I've seen a father embrace his gay son for the first time in years because Kenneth and Steve sang with passion and conviction. I've seen a whole audience flapping their hands because they are reliving Favorite One. I've seen a whole auditorium swoon when we the whole chorus did our ripple perfect at the end of Cole Porter. I've seen the Christmas Spirit touch 2000 faces as you truly spread peace on one Silent Night. You guys can be stunning.

For my part I will share a few personal things as to why I sing. First, singing OR dancing on stage scares the life out of me. I love to sing and I have been known to shake my grove thing a time or two. But doing it on stage in front of thousands of people takes every last bit of courage I have. Not because I care what the audience thinks. It scares me because I believe that every single one of you deserves to be a part of something great and that means I need to do my best. I believe that each of you has a great story that can be shared and deserves to be told. I believe that Paul Spiller looks too fantastic up on stage rocking out, that to have his friends in the audience wondering why that one short Hispanic lower baritone looks lost in his music, would do him a great disservice. I believe David Geebo has spent too many years being a vital part of the voice of this community, for my voice to be the discordant one that detracts from all that he gives. I believe that the work of Ron La Carna, Phil Agler, Ken Loustalot to be spot on with their movements deserves nothing less than for me to be right there with them. I believe that when we sing songs like True Colors I am a better person because of the friendship and fellowship of James Knapp, Mel Montanez and Joe Tate. How could I not sing that song with conviction when people like Kenneth Clayborne, Tom Crow and Barb Easterly believe in me. Who am I to be too tired when I think about the great distances and struggles Eric McAnallen has gone through to be a great musician with us or that Kazu Itano would risk his whole life just to sing with us? How could I not give my all in songs like Rock Me Amadeus when our new guys John Chakalis, Dez Ledezma, Eric Plogg, Bradley Nethercutt and all the others deserve to have the time of their life on stage. I believe each and every one of you deserve a great show and that is what gets me past my fear of being on stage. I truly believe you are family, though there is no way I will ever know each of you as well as you deserve. I know I can sing my best for you. That is what motivates me even when some of the music we sing isn't my favorite.

Second I don't like doing things on my own. I'd rather have 100 people on the dance floor with me than have it to myself. I'd rather sing with 100 of you than to sing by myself. I believe in the songs that we have sung together through the years and they have always been a precious gift to me because I am standing next to you. It was an amazing gift to sing "Because I Knew You" with people I truly believe I am better off for having known. Especially singing that song next to one of my best friends, Jon Segura, who has since moved. Though he lives in Tulsa now, his spirit lives on with this chorus and I sing with him and all my other close friends in my heart. I am a better singer because of Casey Arnold, Richard Hudkins and Jonny Bauman because of their patience and encouragement singing next to me. They may not be on stage with us this concert, but I hope they know I still sing with them. I don't like to sing alone because I know I am better as a singer AND person with my good friends Jon M, John, Mel, Toby, Sam, Rayan, Dez, and the many others on stage with me. I couldn't do it without all of you. I couldn't sing One Voice with conviction and believe every word if not for the encouragement and support of all of you. You have helped this one timid shy little voice learn he can make a difference. You have turned a quiet untrained voice into a part of a spirit and harmony that has already touched and changed thousands of lives in this community. That is magic. That is the power of our chorus, of our voices when we find that beautiful place of synergy when it isn't about the words or notes or movements anymore. It doesn't matter if the music is Mozart or Madonna. It doesn't matter if I love the music or hate it. At that magical incredible time when we come together like that, it is all beautiful, it is all life changing, it is all a fantastic moment in time. A time when voices "transcend time and space" and instill in an entire community the belief that we can change the world. A belief that tomorrow will be wonderful for all of us, no matter who we love or what we believe or the color of skin or gender. A belief that our capacity to heal and forgive will out shine our capacity for war or malice. That is why I sing with each of you. I believe you are that good. I believe you have that greatness.

All that from singing Pink Cadillac? Yes sir. All that from getting your hands up at the right time on Walk Like an Egyptian? Definitely. I may be overly optimistic and a hopeless romantic at heart, but yes I do believe all of this can lead to that great dream. We are reliving a decade in which Gay men and women were finally finding strength in their voice. The struggles of the 60's and 70's were finally breaking down barriers and walls. We found the will to stand up and march when no one else would even acknowledge the plight of HIV and AIDS because it was a "gay" disease. This over the top, big, poppy music was liberating to so many people. We could Shout and Let it all out. We could get So Excited and we didn't have to hide it anymore. We could embrace the freedom of the 60's and 70' with the responsibilities of life AND still Rock like Amadeus. The responsibilities we now had weren't a shackles for a community, they added True Colors, real faces and strength to our voice. So many millions of voices are gone now because of the silence of the early 80's. This is our chance, not to morn them, but to Celebrate their lives and struggles with an Anthem and keep the promise that we will indeed Act Up, Come Out and be silent no longer.

Come on guys, are you ready for the 80's? Can you release your inner Maniac and deliver one heck of Thriller on the 31st. I believe you guys can. I can promise you I won't let you down.

Relax. Take a deep breath and come ready for a great month of rehearsals and music making. Sorry for being so long winded, but I just believe that strongly in all of you guys.   Please feel free to share your thoughts on "Why you sing" here.  I know there are many different reason you sing with this chorus.  I can serve you better and we as a chorus can nuture you better if we know some of what inspires you to be here.  James, Kenneth, Eric, Joe, Mike and I all are truly interested to know and find you input incredibly valuable.  You are our inspiration, we'd love to know what yours is.

Thanks again.

Albert