Chorus Information

Rainbow Women's Chorus

Ruth Huber, Co-Director & composer-in-residence

Information last updated: 2008-06-01
Status: Current

Basic Information

Asst Conductor :	Betsy Wagner, Co-Director
Description:	This is a special interest women's chorus, open to the general public. Members are primarily lesbian, but chorus is not restrictive.
Web Address:	http://www.rainbowwomen.org
Year Estab:	1996
Mission:	The Rainbow Women's Chorus works together to develop musical excellence in an atmosphere of mutual support and respect. We perform publicly for the entertainment, education, and cultural enrichment of our audiences and community. We sing to enhance the esteem of all women, to celebrate diversity, to promote peace and freedom, and to touch people's hearts and lives. " "
Emphasis:	Women's music--by and/or about women.
Size:	25
Concerts/Year:	2-3 large; 6-7 small
Auditions:	Voice placement--beginning of each season.
Dues:	$20 per month
Dress:	Tuxedo shirts, black slacks
Rehearsals:	Monday, 7:00p.m. to 9:30 p.m., , ,

Type of Music:		Type of Chorus:	Women's Gay/Lesbian Political
Rehearse City:	San Jose
Region:	Santa Clara County
Audition Req'd:	Y

Chorus Contact Information

Mailing Address:	P.O. Box 32346, San Jose, 95152
Phone:	(510) 226-0410
Email:	info@rainbowwomen.org

Other Information

Related Groups:	No
History:	The Rainbow Women's Chorus (RWC) began its history of performance, emphasizing women's musical contributions, in 1996. At that time, the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus (SVGMC) had just returned from the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses' (GALA Choruses) Festival V, where they witnessed some powerful and moving performances by women's choruses from other states. SVGMC saw the need for a women's chorus in the community, and helped organize the very first meeting in October, 1996. At that first meeting, 12 women gathered to sing, led by Lynne McLaughlin (former artistic director of SVGMC), for the start of the chorus. They first appeared on stage as guests at SVGMC's holiday concert in December that year, singing one number on their own and the second joined by the men's chorus. RWC was welcomed into the community that evening by a rousing audience, clearly showing the recognition of the need for this expression of women, and the support they would continue to receive from the community for years to follow. In January, Ruth Huber (former founder and artistic director of Tapestry Singers in Austin, Texas, and accomplished composer and arranger) joined RWC as co-director, putting RWC in the capable hands of two very skilled and experienced directors. RWC's first full-length concert, New Beginnings, was performed in May, 2007 at Le Petit Trianon Theatre in downtown San Jose, to a standing-room-only crowd. The impact of this overwhelming support of the chorus was felt by all. RWC followed with a performance at the Montgomery Theater, called "Rainbow Women, Comin' Home ", part of the City of San Jose's Performing Arts Summer Series (PASS) concert series, giving the chorus greater exposure to the city's arts community and allowing the opportunity to perform in one of the city's larger venues with professional technical support. That same year, RWC and SVGMC joined forces to bid to host GALA Choruses' quadrennial festival event, bringing gay and lesbian choruses from around the world to San Jose for eight days of singing, workshops, entertainment, and mutual support. Their bid was accepted, and in July 2000, 150 choruses totaling 6,000 delegates from the US, Canada, England, Australia, France, Germany, and Ireland came to San Jose to perform for each other in a week-long series of concerts and events. In honor of becoming the host site and in preparation for the choruses to embark on this endeavor together, RWC commissioned Ruth Huber to compose a piece of music based on the experiences and expectations, fears and excitement, of the members of RWC and SVGMC in joining their voices in song. Rainbow Bridge premiered in 1998 to the San Jose community, and had the distinction of being the opening performance of GALA Choruses' Festival 2000. Throughout the years, the chorus has performed many concerts with various themes, always with a focus on musical excellence, entertainment, and education. Songs with a message of strength and equality and fighting injustice are joined by those with humor, fun, and celebration. Concerts have included celebration of the holidays such as Solstice, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, songs of peace, a celebration of traditional women's music, from cultures around the world, and Women of Broadway. They have performed with musical groups from around the bay area, as well as with Margie Adam, well-known women's music composer and performer. In 2003, RWC formed a small ensemble, Vocal InFusion (VIF). VIF is an auditioned group that gives an opportunity for chorus members to perform in a different setting. VIF has performed in RWC concerts as well as in several small performances in the community. In 2004, RWC recorded their first CD, Rainbow Women, Comin' Home. This CD is a recording of a concert with selections from their first eight years of performances, as well as the Festival 2000 recording of Rainbow Bridge, recorded with SVGMC. Also in 2004, RWC headed to Montreal, Canada for GALA Choruses' Festival VII. In addition to their own set, RWC was invited to join the host choruses of Montreal to sing at the opening ceremonies, and to sing Rainbow Bridge during the closing ceremonies. Additionally, VIF had their GALA debut at the Festival, and even appeared on Montreal television during a showcase performance. Throughout their existence, the chorus has always put an emphasis on outreach, singing as guests at performances all over the Bay Area. These invitations include the grand opening of the San Jose City Hall, the Santa Clara State of the County address, World Aids Day, The San Jose Museum of Art, Genentech Corporation's diversity celebration, Oracle Corporation's pride week, the Palo Alto Unity Church, MCC of San Jose, the Billy DeFrank Gay and Lesbian Community Center in San Jose, and the San Jose Gay Pride flag raising ceremony. RWC has received numerous grants from various organizations, including the City of San Jose, Santa Clara County, and councilmember Ken Yeager. The chorus greatly appreciates the support from the city and the arts community, recognizing the need to serve the lesbian and gay community. However, our biggest support has always come from our community supporters - audience members, community members, and chorus members themselves. Without these sources of support, RWC could not exist as it does today. The Rainbow Women's Chorus looks forward to coming together as a proud group of women, bringing many more years of entertainment to its supporters in the community. If you haven't seen the chorus before now, or if you've missed any of the recent performances, you are strongly encouraged to come and share in the experience and become a part of the RWC community. "Without an audience, the performance would be just another rehearsal. " [from website March 2008] "

Related Groups:

History:

The Rainbow Women's Chorus (RWC) began its history of performance, emphasizing women's musical contributions, in 1996. At that time, the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus (SVGMC) had just returned from the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses' (GALA Choruses) Festival V, where they witnessed some powerful and moving performances by women's choruses from other states. SVGMC saw the need for a women's chorus in the community, and helped organize the very first meeting in October, 1996. At that first meeting, 12 women gathered to sing, led by Lynne McLaughlin (former artistic director of SVGMC), for the start of the chorus. They first appeared on stage as guests at SVGMC's holiday concert in December that year, singing one number on their own and the second joined by the men's chorus. RWC was welcomed into the community that evening by a rousing audience, clearly showing the recognition of the need for this expression of women, and the support they would continue to receive from the community for years to follow. In January, Ruth Huber (former founder and artistic director of Tapestry Singers in Austin, Texas, and accomplished composer and arranger) joined RWC as co-director, putting RWC in the capable hands of two very skilled and experienced directors. RWC's first full-length concert, New Beginnings, was performed in May, 2007 at Le Petit Trianon Theatre in downtown San Jose, to a standing-room-only crowd. The impact of this overwhelming support of the chorus was felt by all. RWC followed with a performance at the Montgomery Theater, called "Rainbow Women, Comin' Home ", part of the City of San Jose's Performing Arts Summer Series (PASS) concert series, giving the chorus greater exposure to the city's arts community and allowing the opportunity to perform in one of the city's larger venues with professional technical support. That same year, RWC and SVGMC joined forces to bid to host GALA Choruses' quadrennial festival event, bringing gay and lesbian choruses from around the world to San Jose for eight days of singing, workshops, entertainment, and mutual support. Their bid was accepted, and in July 2000, 150 choruses totaling 6,000 delegates from the US, Canada, England, Australia, France, Germany, and Ireland came to San Jose to perform for each other in a week-long series of concerts and events. In honor of becoming the host site and in preparation for the choruses to embark on this endeavor together, RWC commissioned Ruth Huber to compose a piece of music based on the experiences and expectations, fears and excitement, of the members of RWC and SVGMC in joining their voices in song. Rainbow Bridge premiered in 1998 to the San Jose community, and had the distinction of being the opening performance of GALA Choruses' Festival 2000. Throughout the years, the chorus has performed many concerts with various themes, always with a focus on musical excellence, entertainment, and education. Songs with a message of strength and equality and fighting injustice are joined by those with humor, fun, and celebration. Concerts have included celebration of the holidays such as Solstice, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, songs of peace, a celebration of traditional women's music, from cultures around the world, and Women of Broadway. They have performed with musical groups from around the bay area, as well as with Margie Adam, well-known women's music composer and performer. In 2003, RWC formed a small ensemble, Vocal InFusion (VIF). VIF is an auditioned group that gives an opportunity for chorus members to perform in a different setting. VIF has performed in RWC concerts as well as in several small performances in the community. In 2004, RWC recorded their first CD, Rainbow Women, Comin' Home. This CD is a recording of a concert with selections from their first eight years of performances, as well as the Festival 2000 recording of Rainbow Bridge, recorded with SVGMC. Also in 2004, RWC headed to Montreal, Canada for GALA Choruses' Festival VII. In addition to their own set, RWC was invited to join the host choruses of Montreal to sing at the opening ceremonies, and to sing Rainbow Bridge during the closing ceremonies. Additionally, VIF had their GALA debut at the Festival, and even appeared on Montreal television during a showcase performance. Throughout their existence, the chorus has always put an emphasis on outreach, singing as guests at performances all over the Bay Area. These invitations include the grand opening of the San Jose City Hall, the Santa Clara State of the County address, World Aids Day, The San Jose Museum of Art, Genentech Corporation's diversity celebration, Oracle Corporation's pride week, the Palo Alto Unity Church, MCC of San Jose, the Billy DeFrank Gay and Lesbian Community Center in San Jose, and the San Jose Gay Pride flag raising ceremony. RWC has received numerous grants from various organizations, including the City of San Jose, Santa Clara County, and councilmember Ken Yeager. The chorus greatly appreciates the support from the city and the arts community, recognizing the need to serve the lesbian and gay community. However, our biggest support has always come from our community supporters - audience members, community members, and chorus members themselves. Without these sources of support, RWC could not exist as it does today. The Rainbow Women's Chorus looks forward to coming together as a proud group of women, bringing many more years of entertainment to its supporters in the community. If you haven't seen the chorus before now, or if you've missed any of the recent performances, you are strongly encouraged to come and share in the experience and become a part of the RWC community. "Without an audience, the performance would be just another rehearsal. " [from website March 2008] "

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