The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, a subsidiary of The Rocky Mountain Arts Association, has maintained a passionate commitment to the lives and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals since 1982. We strive to be welcoming and respectful to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression.
In other words, we open our doors to anyone regardless of a person’s gender expression, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical abilities, or socioeconomic status – as long as you love to SING! We hold space for those with various backgrounds and experiences in music. Our members consist of singers whose music knowledge and ability range from beginner to professional.
We firmly believe in the transformative power of music to change and improve lives. We select choral music that ignites our creative spirit and produce high-quality choral performances that appeal to diverse audiences. We look at each concert performance as an opportunity to educate ourselves and our audiences about LGBTQIA+ history and the challenges that remain as we strive for equality and full inclusion in society FOR EVERYONE.
We entertain, educate, inspire and empower. Become a singing member of DGMC!
Auditions
DGMC holds auditions only two times a season – the 3rd week of August and the 3rd week of December.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep posted when auditions open again.
Can’t make the dates we have scheduled? Reach out via the audition form still and add a note – we’ll do what we can to accommodate you if we can.
How to Schedule Your Audition:
- Click the purple “Audition Sign Up” button in the middle of this page.
- You will be directed to our audition form.
- Fill out the form and include any additional, relevant experience that you would like for us to know, and submit the form.
- You will receive a copy of your completed form via email as confirmation.
- Someone from DGMC will contact you with more detailed information regarding the audition process.
Note: If you are a previous member wishing to return to the chorus, please follow the same procedures. Fill out the audition form (again, see the purple button in the middle of this page). We may have you follow a slightly different process.
At the Audition:
We ask that you arrive no later than 10 minutes before your scheduled audition time. It is important to warm up your voice prior to arriving and to also wear an outfit that makes you most comfortable. You will be greeted by DGMC members and may be asked to fill out some additional forms. Use that time to relax, ask any questions you may have, and enjoy the people around you.
Each audition should last about ten minutes followed by a brief interview with a member from DGMC to guide you through next steps, consisting of the following elements (the order of this may vary):
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- Vocalizing – scales and vocal exercises
- This will help determine range, breath support, clarity of vocal tone, intonation, ability to adapt to coaching feedback, consistency in maintaining vocal technique or instruction
- Sing the prepared piece
- You are asked to learn and prepare the song below. The song chosen will reflect the styles of songs performed for the upcoming season and will help the Artistic Director determine the outcome of your success. The key of the songs are intentional as to help determine one’s vocal part and best fit in the chorus. If there are a few notes that are too high or too low, do the best you can to sing them. You are welcome to take some artistic liberty with rhythm, notes, and adlibs.
- Vocalizing – scales and vocal exercises
- Please come with sheet music or chord charts to your favorite audition song that you want to show us. We may ask to hear a second.
- Aural Exercises – Chromatic scales, interval assessments, pitch recall
- This will help determine your ability to hear and match musical passages. Additionally, it will help determine your ability to blend.
- Interview Question(s) – Why do you want to join DGMC? Etc.
- We are to ensure you have the requisite attitude and spirit to join our family. The culture of our organization is important and one of the key elements that make us successful and joyful in what we do.
Note: These are closed auditions, meaning the only person in the room will be the auditionee, the Artistic Director, and a member of the Artistic Team.
After You Sing:
After the vocal audition with the Artistic Director, you will be directed to an area to further talk to members of DGMC. There, you will be told the results of your audition.
Note: Due to limited open spots available in each section of the chorus, you may be told to standby for a decision via email. This request has nothing to do with your ability to perform or sing, rather a logistical measure we are taking to ensure final numbers are balanced and available. You will be notified of a final decision within 48 hours of your audition via email.
Ideally, we would love to accept everyone; however, we are limited by rehearsal and performance space constraints.
If you were not selected to join us this season, please do not be discouraged! You are always welcome to audition again in the future. There are current members who have auditioned more than once before joining DGMC. We welcome you to consider joining DGMC as a non-singing volunteer. We are a volunteer-driven organization and always welcome new members who wish to contribute time to our organization.
FAQ’s
I’ve never sung in a chorus before. Should I still audition?
Yes! Our chorus is a mix of singers with diverse experiences in music. We cultivate an environment of learning and support, regardless of skill level. We also have resources to help such as audio tracks to practice, access to your section leader, big sibling, and at times, the artistic staff for help. Sections hold sectional rehearsals for additional assistance.
When are rehearsals? What if I have a conflict?
Weekly rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings for 3 hours in Denver, in the Hale neighborhood, adjacent to Cherry Creek North. Members are expected to attend all rehearsals (typically 10-12 in a cycle) and may not miss more than a set number of rehearsals for each concert series, as set by the Artistic Director and Chorus Leadership team per cycle. Absences due to emergencies or illness are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Note: All performance Dress/Tech rehearsals are mandatory, so you should plan for attendance accordingly well in advance – these are critical to the success of our performances.
What is your schedule per season?
Our season starts in September (after Labor Day) and ends in June. During a season, we perform 3 cycles of concerts:
- Fall/Holiday – September through Mid-December
- We perform 5-6 concerts in the beginning of December, usually ending no later than December 15.
- Winter/Spring – January through March
- We perform 2-4 concerts at the end of March.
- Summer (June)/Pride – April through Mid-June
- We perform 3-4 concerts around Mid-June, usually ending no later than June 20.
To sing with DGMC, you will be expected to sing all concerts of a cycle unless specified by the Artistic Director.
What are the financial obligations?
Membership dues are a significant part of the operating budget of the chorus. To be an active member, singers are required to pay annual dues in the amount of $360, or $120 for each of the three concert cycles. Multiple options are available to you for you might wish to pay these each cycle/year.
Note: Dropping out of a concert cycle does not stop a member’s obligation to their yearly dues.
What if I cannot afford the costs? Am I still able to join?
Through the generous contributions of our donors and members of the Guardian Circle, we have been able to offer singers some financial assistance to offset some of the costs associated with being a member of DGMC. They have included, but are not limited to:
- Concert cycle dues (partial, possibly more depending on a number of factors)
- Performance wardrobe costs (i.e. tuxedo, t-shirts, etc.)
- Trips/Tours and retreats
Please do not let cost be a reason to not join our chorus family. We are happy to work with you.
How else can I support DGMC and its members?
You can elect to become a member of our Guardian Circle, which waives monthly dues because you are donating to the chorus instead of paying those dues (and paying more than monthly dues amount), which gets you added benefits. See the Guardian Circle page for more information, or we can answer questions at your audition.
What do we wear during concerts?
Each concert is different and sometimes will require a different wardrobe. Below is a list of standard wardrobe types and what they consist of. We may be able to offer financial assistance to singers who cannot provide these items:
- Formal
- Black tuxedo with white shirt, and black shoes
- Black, long gown (sleeves must cover the shoulder) and black shoes
* If you own a tux, we will just need to look at it to determine if it matches our guidelines. We do work with a vendor that offers discounts to DGMC singers as well.
- Concert Black
- Black long, sleeved button up with a collar, black pants, and black shoes
- Black, long dress (sleeves must cover the shoulder) and black shoes
*Sometimes we will ask for a black, short-sleeved shirts that can include a polo or button up
- Semi Casual
- Purple DGMC polo shirt with dark blue jeans, black pants, khaki pants, or long skirts of the aforementioned color
- Casual
- DGMC T-Shirt, with dark blue jeans, black pants, khaki pants, or long skirts of the aforementioned color
- Costume
- Sometimes we ask singers to wear a specific costume for a role in one of the performances.
Who can be a singing member of DGMC?
DGMC performs music arranged for tenor and bass vocal ranges. We welcome all, no matter how you identify. We focus on artistic excellence and community building.
What does it mean to be a member of DGMC?
The members of DGMC are asked at all times to represent the organization in musical excellence, help maintain a positive environment of love and support of others within the organization, and throughout our community as well.
Dues – Members must sing at least two of the three concert cycles (Fall/Holiday, Winter/Spring, and Summer (June)/Price) to remain an active member in good standing. See the DGMC Membership agreement for details.
Attendance – Members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances and may not miss more than a set number for each concert series, as set by the Artistic Director and Chorus Leadership team per cycle. Absences due to emergencies or illness are handled on a case-by-case basis.
There may be additional volunteer performance opportunities during the course of a season that are outside of the 3 cycles of performances that are on our yearly calendar.
For example, we are frequently asked to sing at weddings, memorial services, conferences, and other important events. These performances are not mandatory, rather strongly encouraged as it helps carry out our mission to “Build Community Through Music”, help support the financial success of the organization, and allows us to maintain the same sound that our community expects from us.
Musical Excellence – Our concerts are filled with fun and powerful music, some dancing, narrating, and solo opportunities. Each concert is memorized and will require you to put in practice time on your own. We provide vocal tracks to help your weekly practice. Each voice is important, and we are only as strong as our least prepared singer. We aim to maintain a high level of performance and with your help, we can exceed that expectation each time.
More questions for the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus? Send us an inquiry by filling out this 2-question form: CONTACT DGMC.