Despite its moniker, members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus hail from a range of locations throughout the Bay Area.
During this year’s LGBT Pride celebration in San Francisco, the group will take shape as “the biggest boy band ever” and congregate to celebrate and embody several decades worth of prominent musicians.
“We’re doing Beach Boys, we’re doing Beatles, we’re doing YMCA, we’re doing ... you name it, we’re doing it,” said Dan England, singer, beatboxer and Peninsula resident. “The interesting thing about this chorus is that 250 singers are on stage. We’re very diverse. We have singers that are 22 years old and singers that are 80 years old.”
As England notes, this range of ages is instrumental in this weekend’s performance, helping the entire group capture and express hits from heartthrob musicians throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Although England and his husband, SFGMC Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig, spend much of their time immersed in the bustling world of the chorus, they retreat to the relative tranquility of their Daly City home at the end of the day.
“We moved because we just like the quality of living in Daly City,” England said.
Promptly after coming out of the closet in 1998, England became involved with the gay men’s chorus in San Jose. After several years of experience, he was inspired to move on to a more ambitious project and joined SFGMC, where he met Seelig. The two have been married for a year and a half.
“The chorus and our relationship are intertwined,” England said.
“Hearthrobs: Biggest Boy Band Ever debuted Friday,” with two more shows scheduled Saturday, closing out the group’s 2015-16 season.
“This concert’s just so much fun, and we like entertaining the audience,” England said.
With the LGBT targeted shooting in Orlando weighing heavy in England’s mind and those of the rest of the chorus, fun is more important than ever. SFGMC has been involved in activism and community outreach since its inception, and has been outspoken about the Orlando attack.
“What’s unique about it is after this tragedy we’re going to take a moment in the performance to reflect on that,” England said.
Saturday’s performances will be held at San Francisco’s Nourse Theater at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 to $60. For more information visit sfgmc.com.
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