Creating Change Through Music
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) is the world's first openly gay chorus.
Since its premiere performance on the steps of City Hall with 100 members singing to stand up against discrimination and bigotry, the chorus has inspired the worldwide LGBTQIA+ choral movement.
With over 300 singers strong today, SFGMC is bringing people and communities together through the power of music.
And we’re just getting started.
Welcome to season 47
A Season of “Together”
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) is proud to announce our “Together” Season, a series of 11 concerts across the Bay Area between December and June. Under the baton of Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, the 280-member chorus, now in its 47th season, will entertain and inspire audiences like never before!
HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
December 6, 7, 15, 21, & 24, 2024
This concert brings together the Bay Area like nothing else. SFGMC’s signature choreography, comedy and charm is anticipated to entertain 15,000 audience members from San Francisco to Berkeley and Sonoma. Expect to hear holiday classics, original compositions, some Chappell Roan and a Celine Dion medley that will leave audiences saying, “No, they didn’t just do that!”
The Holiday Spectacular has something for everyone and is recommended for all ages.
BROADWAY, OUR WAY
March 29, 2025
The Curran Theatre
Audiences can expect a show that only SFGMC could dream of as we leverage the love and power of everyone’s favorite Broadway anthems at this concert, with music from shows including Wicked, Ragtime, and Dear Evan Hansen. And what better place to showcase this evening of bright lights, big sets (of pipes) and unmistakable giddiness than at one of San Francisco’s most iconic Broadway touring houses, The Curran?
THE PRIDE CONCERT
June 2025 (Date and Venue TBA)
SFGMC concludes our 47th season with this vibrant celebration of our beloved LGBTQ+ community and how far we’ve come. This concert honors the spirit of Pride Month, uplifting our stories and celebrating our resilience. In June, SFGMC will perform this special program in San Francisco (venue and date to be announced shortly), bringing the community together in song to honor the legacy of Pride in our City.
CRESCENDO 2025
April 5, 2025
Westin St. Francis Hotel
Last season, Crescendo raised a record $1 million dollars! The glamorous gala includes honoring advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, a sit-down gourmet dinner, performances by the Chorus, a live auction and the most fierce after-party found anywhere across the Bay Area social calendar.
JOIN THE CONDUCTOR’S SOCIETY
We’ve got a secret to share—joining the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Conductor’s Society is the it way to support our mission of spreading hope, love, and joy through music. Hop on board and be part of something fabulous. Your support helps us create groundbreaking performances, build community, and work our magic—especially through our RHYTHM youth program.
Oh…and members get early access to the best seats to our concerts!
Eleanor - RHYTHM Story
Crescendo 2024
Enjoy this video of Eleanor sharing their RHYTHM story with the guests at Crescendo 2024.
Note: to view the video, when you get to the RHYTHM page, scroll to the bottom of the page.
170 Valencia Street - San Francisco, CA - 94103
In a few weeks, we will be announcing an extraordinary second season of events at The Chan. To be the first to know, be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. To subscribe, scroll to the bottom of our homepage and fill out the form.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Welcome to our interactive events calendar. Here, you will find an on-going list of SFGMC-related events, and everything happening at The Chan year round. To use, scroll through each month and look for the color coded event names. Click on the event to launch the event details pop up. If tickets are available, there will be a GET TICKETS button on that event listing. If you have questions, please contact [email protected]
News & Announcements
Season 46 Announcement coming soon!
There’s always something exciting happening that you just can’t miss.
SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS CLOSES OUT SEASON 45 WITH HELLO YELLOW BRICK ROAD
June 9, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED NAMED INAUGURAL RECIPIENT OF THE NANCY PELOSI ALLY AWARD AT SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS’ 17TH ANNUAL CRESCENDO
April 12, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS 17TH ANNUAL CRESCENDO
February 16, 2023
Our Mission
To lead by creating extraordinary music and experiences that build community, inspire activism, and foster compassion at home and around the world.
For 45 years, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has served as an international standard bearer for a powerful mix of musical excellence and mission-driven activism. Founded in 1978, SFGMC was the first choral organization to courageously proclaim its orientation in its name and is credited with helping start the LGBTQIA+ choral movement that now spans the entire globe, galvanizing and changing the course of LGBTQIA+ history.
Support San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Our growth depends on you
Make a 100% tax-deductible donation today. Proceeds directly support SFGMC's performances and programs that promote an inclusive and just world for today and for future generations to come.
Sing With Us!
Auditions are open to any and all persons in the Bay Area who can sing in the tenor or bass range, irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or race.
If you want to be involved with the Chorus in the San Francisco Bay Area as a non-singing member, we can get you in touch with our volunteer coordinator.
Like other gay organizations in San Francisco, SFGMC is volunteer-driven, so we always welcome community service volunteers as valued participants.
Follow Us
Connect with us on our social channels to see what we're up to.
FAQS
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The Castro District, also known as Eureka Valley, is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is also known as The Castro. San Francisco's gay village is mostly concentrated in the business district, which runs from Market Street to 19th Street on Castro Street.
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There are many ways you can meet members of the diverse community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joining San Francisco gay organizations like the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus as a singer or volunteer is a great way to meet members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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The LGBTQIA+ community in San Francisco has one of the largest and most prominent populations of residents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
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No, auditions are open to anyone who can sing in the tenor or bass range, irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or race.
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Over 2,000 different men, cis and trans, and non-binary people have sung with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus since the first 115 members sang on the steps of City Hall in 1978. Before his tragic untimely death from AIDS, Jon Reed Sims, who founded the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, went on to found a number of gay and lesbian choral and instrumental ensembles.
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The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus embarked on a tour of the American Deep South in response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and the divisive 2016 election.
The tour, led by Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig and joined by The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, led by Artistic Director Terrance Kelly, brought a message of music, love, and acceptance to communities and individuals dealing with intolerance. More than 300 singers toured Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. They performed in churches, community centers, and concert halls in the hopes of uniting us during a difficult time.
As of August 2023, you can locate a streaming version on Paramount +.