Gay Men's Chorus' next concert a Tribute to the Rock Band QUEEN

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is honoring the music and the memory of Freddie Mercury and the British rock band, Queen in a series of upcoming concerts. On April 7th they will perform in Santa Rosa, CA to help raise funds for the Face to Face organization. Then, on April 20 and 21 there will be fully staged concerts in San Francisco. Please see the body of the press release for additional details.

Golden Gate Performing Arts, Inc., and La Crema Winery proudly present...
San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus
Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Artistic Director
in the subscription series concert:
SFGMC does QUEEN
--a tribute to Freddie Mercury and the British rock band, Queen

When: Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 21 at 5 p.m.
Where: Mission High School-Murphy Auditorium
3750 18th Street (Church/Dolores), San Francisco
Tickets: $20, $30 or $40 reserved seating        
Cash, Check, or Visa/MasterCard
Ph: 415.865.3650; www.sfgmc.org
Box Office: 4053 18th Street in San Francisco (18th at Hartford)

SAN FRANCISCO- The 200-voice San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, now in its 24th season, will present the concert SFGMC does QUEEN-a tribute to Freddie Mercury and the British rock band Queen, on Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 21 at 5 p.m., at the Murphy Auditorium at the historic Mission High School. Heralded as one of the most gifted songwriters and performers of the twentieth century, Freddie Mercury-like so many artists of his generation-tragically lost his life to complications from AIDS in November, 1991.

Queens innovative and complex vocal harmonies, and their flamboyant concert presentations, offered inspiration and brought respect to the rock music genre-making Queen one of the highest esteemed rock bands of all time. SFGMC will resurrect such rock classics as Bohemian Rhapsody" and We Are the Champions" in a retrospective spanning more than twenty years. Accompanied by a consummate rock band and a multi-media presentation, this concert is guaranteed to blow your mind!"

Conductor and arranger of the Queen concert, Dr. Kathleen McGuire, said: My musical influences over the years have included Bach, Wagner, and Queen. Ill never forget the first time I heard music by Queen-it changed my life forever. The men of the Chorus love singing this music, and I know the audience will love it too. Freddie Mercury did 180 vocal overdubs in the studio when they recorded 'Bohemian Rhapsody, and for the first time ever, this effect will be reproduced live in concert. It really sounds amazing-the music in this concert is some of the most exciting youll ever hear!"

In addition to the San Francisco concerts, there will be a preview/benefit concert in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 7, 5 p.m., at the Sonoma Country Day School Jackson Theater. For further information about the preview concert, call: 707-544-1581.

MILESTONES
SFGMC does QUEEN marks several important milestones: April 20, 2002 (first concert date in San Francisco) is the ten year anniversary of Freddie Mercurys memorial concert in London; April 7 (preview concert date) is World Health Day; 2002 is the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs ascension to the throne. SFGMC does QUEEN will commemorate all of these occasions in a manner befitting the finest queens" of San Francisco!

Tickets for reserved seating at both performances may be purchased by calling 415-865-3650, or by visiting the website: www.sfgmc.org. Prices range from $20 to $40. Group discounts are available.

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is proud to have La Crema winery as the co-presenter of the three SFGMC does Queen concerts. La Crema is sponsoring Chorus concerts for a second year and will also co-present SFGMC's summer concert, as part of the official Pride Festival 2002, You're a Grand Old F(l)ag. SFGMC is grateful to be associated with all their sponsors and grantors -- Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, the official airlines of SFGMC, Barefoot Cellars, Borage Floral Design, California Arts Council, Chiron, Grants for the Arts/SF Hotel Tax Fund, Horizon Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Nuts-n-Bolts Graphics, Prudential Securities, Providian Financial, the San Francisco Arts Commission and Sherman Clay

PRESS CONTACT: Scott Mandell, Executive Director
Ph: 415-865-3650; smandell@sfgmc.org