Back in 2007, Michael Semancik had no idea that queer choruses existed. But a concert that he saw performed by the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus changed everything. And nearly two decades later he’s leading the nearly 200-member organization as it entertains audiences in a range of genres.
I talked with Semancik to learn more about his role as the artistic director and conductor for the chorus, its musical legacy in Philadelphia, and what’s in store for 2026.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
This is one of the oldest [gay choruses] in the country. What makes Philly stand out?
“ANNA Crusis, they're a [50-year-old] feminist choir. They were the first queer choir to exist in the United States…The Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus is in our 44th season. These choirs came out of the need for [coming] out of hiding [during] the AIDS epidemic, giving people a place to feel welcome and loved at a time when the world did not love us and did not appreciate and understand us.
“We are selling out concerts and we are traveling the world, and we're sharing our messages with new people — gay men and trans people and lesbians and bisexual and straight people. It is just a huge melting pot of people that just love each other and want to sing. And it's just such a very cool and unique thing that started right here in Philadelphia.”
How can you get involved? And who are the types of people who are involved?
“We audition in August and then again in December. And there's just a simple vocal audition. We get to ask you how you heard about [the chorus], why are you choosing us, what are you looking for. Then you get chosen from that.
“You do not have to be trained. There is a wide range of members … people [who] are just starting their singing. They've been singing in the shower and in their cars, and they can match pitches and sing … and then I have [music] professors sitting in my ensemble as well that give up their time teaching because they just love the community.
“It’s always a cool thing when you are sitting next to a college professor of music on one side of you, a pediatrician on one side of you, a published writer in front of you, and lawyers next to you. It is such a melting pot of people that just come together because of their love for each other and love for music.”
Note: The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, so anyone is welcome to audition and join.
What can we expect during this 44th season, especially as it overlaps with the semiquincentennial celebrations throughout next year?
“We have our holiday concerts, which are our biggest concerts and shows. It's a mix of traditional holiday carols to lots of fun, ridiculous things. People can forget about what's going on in their lives.
“Our March show is titled ‘Out of Darkness, We Sing.' [It’s] a powerful concert by the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus that shines a light on injustice and celebrates the strength of communities that refuse to be silenced. Anchored by Joel Thompson's “The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,” this program confronts racial violence, discrimination, and depression in all forms while lifting up hope, unity, and resilience through song in a time of division. We come together to remember, to resist, and to rise out of darkness, we sing.
“We are fighting for social justice. Gay marriage was possibly gonna be overturned and talked about again in the Supreme Court. Through the AIDS epidemic, we are as an organization, we have fought for everything. And that flight has not stopped. Thinking about what Philadelphia has been through, I'm choosing this concept, which is very different from anything we've ever done. There’s gonna be a question-answer session after the concert with some community leaders. I'm diversifying what we are as an organization. So we're putting on our concerts that are fun, but we're also getting in the community. We're also gonna talk about some community issues and what we can do as citizens to help and what we can do to be better Philadelphians.
“In May, for our 250th anniversary, we're doing a British Invasion concert. We're going to do a whole lot of British music with some American sass. And so that's turning out to be a lot of music by Adele, The Beatles, Queen and all of these really, really cool British artists.
“We are also joining the New York City Gay Men's Chorus in June at the Whitney Museum in Manhattan. They have a big celebration as a takeover of the museum. We will be singing at Pride again. Brotherly Love, which is our small ensemble, is doing two big concerts — one up at New Hope in March and then we're doing one December 20th down at Rehoboth — getting our mission out in the suburbs and surrounding areas."
On a related note to the political climate, we have seen over the past years the defunding of many arts and cultural institutions. In what ways has the Gay Men's Chorus been impacted by this and how has the organization been working to stay afloat?
“Public grants are becoming few and far between. We are losing grants and grants aren't available anymore because the funding has been cut from the government. Philadelphia is still strong with the city grants. Some state grants, some of them have been impacted, but nothing like the federal grants have been.
“Last year, we did this big March Madness fundraising [campaign]...and that was super successful. We're excited about doing that again. We hate to have to go to our friends to do that, but it's the support of everyone in Philly that, you know, allows us to be who we are and do the amazing work that we have done. And we're going to continue to move forward.
“I think that it's just being smart about what we are doing and how we're using the little money that we have.”
Under your leadership, how would you like to see this organization evolve?
“One thing that we as PGMC have been trying to do over the past couple of years is diversify our star choir and make it look like Philadelphia from all walks of life…And I think that our choir is looking more like Philadelphia, more and more every concert. That is cool and I want to definitely continue that moving forward.
“We are big in youth and community engagement, so we're revamping that. We do some concerts in schools … but also are trying to get together a big, queer City of Philadelphia Day for youth to come in and have some workshops and learn about what the city has to offer in all of our nonprofits and have a great music day with some choirs and singing. I really am looking forward to building upon that because youth outreach has been a huge part of what we are as PGMC.
“As we crest over 200 people, a couple of members are like, ‘Can we be too many?’ And I say to them: ‘Who am I to deny somebody who needs a community that is a great singer and wants to sing and wants to be a part and change? Who am I to deny that to somebody?’
“It's just innovative planning and really being able to continue what PGMC does very well and that is family, giving back, and creating community through song. For who we are and what we give and what Philadelphia gives to us.”
Tickets for upcoming performances can be found here. Learn more about the audition process and sign up for Dec. 10 auditions here.
