Confluence LGBT Chorus

Whether doing karaoke with your friends or being in the crowd of a concert, it cannot be argued that when singing and music are shared with others, a sense of joy and community is formed. Because of this, many in the LGBTQ+ community have created choruses to be safe spaces for them to sing and perform openly. This was especially needed in the 1980’s due to the polarizing climate surrounding the AIDS crisis. During this time, many choruses were created and very quickly banded together in 1982 to create the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses or GALA. This association gathers LGBTQ+ choruses from all over North America every 4 years to meet and sing together in a multi-day marathon of concerts and workshops.

In 2000, one such GALA solidified the idea to create a chorus in Salem, Oregon. Raymond Elliott had been singing with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus for years when he saw a need for a new chorus. At the time, Oregon only had 3 LGBTQ+ choruses; the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, the Portland Lesbian Choir, and Soromundi: The Lesbian Chorus of Eugene. These are great choruses but two of them practice in Portland and all are only open to a certain vocal range. In creating a mixed voice chorus set in Salem, it would allow more singers from more cities to be able to sing together. And so he founded Confluence LGBT Chorus.

Confluence’s first practice began later that year with 16 people coming together from Portland to Eugene to meet and sing, with their first concert being held soon after. Over the years as its membership has grown, the number of concerts has grown as well. Today, Confluence performs in 10 concerts a year, starting with a cabaret fundraiser in the fall to welcome everyone back after the summer break and have chorus members to perform solos. Then in winter, spring, and summer, Confluence performs concerts in Salem, Portland, and Corvallis. The songs in these concerts range from classical to modern pop, but always have an air of fun with each performance.

Confluence has always strived “to celebrate and affirm the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals” (Confluence LGBT Chorus 2022). To spread this message, Confluence has marched and performed in several Portland Pride parades and has held a booth at both Salem Capital Pride and the Salem Art Fair for years. Confluence has also kept close ties with its GALA origins by participating in and performing at every GALA since 2004. This type of activism has been a favorite of founding members Sam Sappington and Clark House, who were interviewed for this article. With Confluence currently in its 23rd season and still going strong and is always happy to have new members join that share in the vision and mission of the chorus.

Confluence is a non-audition chorus that meets every Sunday at 4:00pm at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Salem. For more information on upcoming concerts, visit www.confluencelgbtchorus.org

Written by Kira Kinney on October 14, 2022

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Bibliography:

Elliott, Raymond “Interview” Kinney, Kira September 18, 2022

GALA Choruses https://galachoruses.org/about/history/

House, Clark “Interview” Kinney, Kira September 18, 2022

Lantz, Kelly “Nine Fantastic LGBTQI+ Classical Music Groups in Oregon.” All Classical Portland https://www.allclassical.org/nine-lgbtq-classical-music-groups-in-oregon/ June 23, 2020

Sappington, Sam “Interview” Kinney, Kira September 18, 2022

“Who We Are” Confluence Willamette Valley LGBT Chorus https://www.confluencelgbtchorus.org/about

Original Salem Online History Content