MUSE at GALA 2024
MUSEs were BUSY! Wednesday through Sunday they had workshops, rehearsals, dinners, not to mention an entire city to explore!
Some MUSEs even chose to pay homage to Mary Tyler Moore by posing for photos at her statue!
Others learned a whole lot of music and performed with more than just MUSE.
We got to sing with some old friends, like MUSE’s Founding Director Dr. Catherine Roma, and introduce the new, like MUSE’s 4th Artistic Director, Dr. Reina Dickey!
GALA TESTIMONIALS
My name is ESK, she/her/hers, and I have been a singing member of MUSE since 2017. Because of Covid, this was my first GALA festival, and it was LIFE CHANGING! I have never witnessed so much queer joy through song and community building in one place. I got to see friends and family from around the country because of one incredible thing we have in common - queer joy and love of music.
Atlanta Women's Choir and Dayton Gay Men's Choir were my favorite concerts. Atlanta used their time to share music filled with social justice impact, as well as incredible sound, while Dayton presented us with 30 minutes of fun through their country music themed concert. Getting to experience this festival with my MUSE family, as well as my spouse, was so special. I am reinvigorated to get MUSE's music and mission out into the world to make an even bigger impact than we've managed in recent years.
My name is Shea Haney, she/her/hers, and I am MUSE's Business Manager! I had the priviledge to began singing with MUSE in 2017 and experienced my very first GALA this year! All I can say is, WOW! GALA is an experience unlike any other.
I came to GALA intending to learn everything I could from any choral leader willing to speak with me. Fortunately, everyone was kind and eager to answer my (many) questions. I attended more workshops than I can count and have a notebook full of ideas to make MUSE's fourth decade UNSTOPABLE!
My absolute favorite, however, was bonding and getting to know MUSEs on a deeper level. I only get to interact with singers a little throughout the season, so it was incredibly fulfilling to experience the range of personalities of my fellow MUSEs. I've never met a group so good at playing Cards Against Humanity!
