I moved to the Austin area in late July 2012. The first of August I joined the Men's Chorus. First, their musicality is superb for a 'volunteer' chorus. They (we) put on great shows! And they give their talents to other organizations in the LBGT community.
However, The CCMC is also a community of men who truly support one another and know how to have FUN. Every person needs circles of friends. The CCMC is that for me and can be that for you!
By the way, did I mention they do great shows!!
We are primarily a Gay men's chorus, however; any man who wishes to sing with us is welcome. I have been a member of the chorus for over 15 years. During that time, I have witnessed the transformative effect that our performances have had on people. The Capital City Men’s Chorus (CCMC), has provided a positive image to not only the Austin community, but, indeed, to many audiences across the country and internationally.
The CCMC was founded in 1989, right in the middle of the AIDS crisis. In fact, along with our scheduled seasonal performances, many times, we were asked to perform at the funerals of our friends who had succumbed to the disease. Fortunately, those types of performances have dramatically decreased. However, HIV and AIDS are still alive and well and, in some cases, rising among some of the youngest in the gay community. One of the reasons that we sing, is to help those living with HIV and AIDS, by collaborating with local organizations that provide support to those living with this disease.
The CCMC's primary mission is to entertain, however; other parts of our outreach include occasionally partnering with other non-profit organizations, to help raise funds and awareness of worthy causes. The CCMC has recently joined forces with the "It Gets Better" campaign, to provide a positive example to today’s gay youth and assure them that it does indeed get better as you get older!
As we move into our 25th anniversary season, it is my hope that the CCMC will be able to continue providing outreach to other local non-profits, serve as an example of artistic expression for gay youth, and provide a safe place where men can meet, experience fellowship, and create beautiful music together!
I am proud to be a singing member of Austin's Capital City Men's Chorus. Men of all singing abilities and experience levels join together to perform a wide variety of music styles. From Beethoven to Broadway, we've got something for everyone!
I've served on the board of directors for more than 4 years, and in that time I've seen the singing membership nearly double. Operating expenses make up only 20% of our budget; 80% of our income goes directly into performance.