Iconique
Stock Image: Chris Robert
Pride month was kicked off with Singing Out’s concert Iconique. The Toronto community choir being composed of over 100 voices, spanning many 2SLGBTQQIA+ identities, dazzled a packed house at Koerner Hall on June 7th.
This show featured many greats of the queer music cannon, including Judy Garland, Janet Jackson, RuPaul Charles, Freddy Mercury, and more. The interweaving of high energy fun pieces, poetic choral music which showed off the choir’s sound blending capabilities, and motivational pieces of resistance and defiance of anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ sentiments, were brilliant examples of the amazing things which can happen when community comes together.
Being a non-audition choir, they are prime examples of what dedication, and a supporting environment can achieve. Scaling the heights of the soprano range, to shaking the foundations with the bass voices, their ability to blend and execute wonderful musical emotion is on par with other choral groups in the city.
As we have written before, singing is one of the most vulnerable and authentic things one can do. And one of the bravest things one can do is to stand together and celebrate those authenticities, showing the world strength and solidarity. Each concert, Singing Out does just that, and they have fun singing at the same time!
Having supportive and safe spaces is crucial to foster connection and confidence in a world that becomes increasingly divided. But in addition to being a safe space for 2SLGBTQQIA+, it is a place to showcase people being their genuine selves. Singing Out’s Trans and Non-Binary Ensemble is a masterclass in fearless authenticity and being inspirations to others to sing loud and true to the whole world.
The amazing work that the choir does and the example they set is a deeply powerful force in showing the world that 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are strong, resilient, and joyfully proud to be themselves, and Singing Out is an encouraging support for all those who may need it.