By John Hayden

Alone, each voice is strong and catches your ear. Together, they fill a room with holiday spirit, command your attention, and never let go until the last note fades, giving way to deafening applause. 

The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus (FLGMC) is warming up their voices, breaking out the tinsel, and hanging the decorations for Jingle All the Way: A Holiday Concert. Founding Director Dr. Gary Keating is back with the chorus and has been working to get everyone ready for post-pandemic fabulousness. That starts with their holiday concert.  

“Music was chosen to be sure to have a holiday, secular, and sacred [feel]. To bring a tear and a laugh,” Keating told OutClique. “It also has to be music that the chorus will like or grow to appreciate. Same with the audience. Plus, we always add dialogue or shared thoughts so that the concert is personal.”

While this isn’t their first return to the stage since COVID, it is their biggest show so far. Everyone is familiar with seasonal music, and Keating made sure one of his personal favorites is in the show. 

“My favorite holiday song, which is at this concert, has to be ‘O Holy Night,’” he says. “It really makes the holiday season for me.”

The FLGMC brings a fun and robust sound to the holidays, as will their guest soloist, tenor Alexander Zenoz. 

“He is a featured soloist with Royal Caribbean and in demand locally,” Keating says. “He will solo with the chorus on an amazing arrangement of ‘Silent Night.’ There will be other soloists from the chorus as well, as is our tradition.”

When you chat with Keating, his energy and passion for music flows. He has been a musician for more than 40 years, and the growth and success of FLGMC is clearly one of his proudest accomplishments. 

“If I am conducting, I am complete as a human being,” he explains. “It is who I am and I have been conducting since high school and my Doctor of Musical Arts is in Conducting. I love conducting all styles of music, but conducting a gay chorus and knowing that I have been involved in changing peoples lives over the years is amazing. Watching men and women come out using the chorus as a safe space and equally exciting performing for diverse audiences who had misconceptions about the LGBTQ community and opening their hearts and minds. That has been amazing.”

Keating sees the chorus as a vehicle for personal achievements and community progress. 

“I will never give up on letting all gay men, regardless of their age, know how rewarding being in a chorus can be,” he says. “That we aren’t done with struggles, and a chorus can make a difference as we work to maintain gay adoptions, fight to keep gay marriage, and workplace protection.”