Diverse City Youth Chorus

MUSE, the Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir and CMC, the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus are pleased to announce the support of the formation of the Diverse City Youth Chorus for middle school, high school and college age students.

Young people aged 13- 22 are invited to sing with Cincinnati’s only performing arts organization for LGBTIQ and straight youth. Rehearsals begin Monday evenings at 7 pm. March 17, 2014 at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. The DCYC will give it’s debut performances on the MUSE June 7-8, 2014 concert series. There is also a week long summer day camp June 2-6, 2014 to prepare for these performances.

Co-founding this new chorus are Lindsey Deaton, former Contemporary Music Director at the Cathedral St. Peter in Chains and Rhonda Juliano, Artistic Director of MUSE. Ms. Deaton will be the Artistic Director and principal conductor of the new ensemble. She directed music at the Cathedral’s weekly contemporary Masses for the last decade.

“Currently in the SW Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky region there is no organization providing performing arts opportunities for LGBTQ identifying young people and their straight friends”, says Ms. Juliano.

Findings from the GLSEN 2011 National School Climate Survey demonstrate that Ohio schools were not safe for most lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) secondary school students. "The vast majority of LGBT students in Ohio regularly heard homophobic remarks, sexist remarks, and negative re- marks about gender expression. Most LGBT students in Ohio had been victimized at school. In addition, many LGBT students in Ohio did not have access to important school resources, such as having Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) or similar student clubs, and were not protected by comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment school policies."

The DCYC mission is to develop the voices, the character strengths and values in the young people served, and to have fun! This educational and outreach choral program will encourage and foster artistic expression, personal development, and leadership in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning intersex and allied youth and will present musical performances that provide an opportunity and space for young people, however they identify, to say “this is a place where I am accepted for who I am and everything that I bring," and share those gifts with the greater Cincinnati community to encourage and promote acceptance, love and connection.

Ms. Deaton says, “As good-will ambassadors, these young people will grow and develop musically and know they have a safe place to offer the best versions of themselves. These young agents of change will then create a ripple effect in our community, changing minds, lives and attitudes in their performances, workshops and curriculum throughout the region.”

For more information or to register: diversecityyouthchorus@gmail.com