Page 62 - CJOct23

Lift Every Voice
Lift E ve r y Vo i ce

again denying that we share a common humanity with singers where they are, especially if they’re coming
Black people? out as trans. I feel it’s important to remember we’re
As human beings we have all experienced some de- not teaching music to singers; we’re teaching singers
gree of suffering, sorrow, and hope for deliverance from through the art of music. It is not just their physical
pain and fear. It is true that we haven’t experienced tor- voice that is a priority. It’s also the emotional experi-
ment that is anything like what was endured by people ence and the emotional survivability of the singer. All
brought from Africa against their will and enslaved for of this has to be taken into account when having the
centuries. But those same people created a body of conversation with your trans singer about their vocal
music in which people from all around the world have part. Yes, inform them of what is healthy for them, but
found some of the deepest connections to their own also keep listening and allow it to be a conversation.
personal struggles. If we say that music doesn’t speak Understand where they are and what they need.
for us, are we denying our common humanity across As a singer with a physical disability, I feel we now
racial categories yet again? have an incredible opportunity. During the pandemic,
many of us found ourselves a part of the choral com-
Diana Saez: Every time that Cantigas munity again because of virtual choirs. If you have
traveled outside the US we would bring a hybrid experience or even a segment of your pro-
music that represented the United States, gram that includes a virtual experience, you are able
and I would always choose a Black Spiri- to include singers with severe disability (either hidden
tual because in my opinion, and in the or visible), parents who can’t afford childcare, singers
opinion of most choral musicians outside of the US, who can’t afford eldercare, alumni who have moved
the Black Spiritual is the quintessential American cho- away, singers who live in choral deserts, and trans and
ral song. gender-expansive singers who may feel unwelcome in
their community or even their local choir. All these
What forms of injustice are you and your sing- thousands upon thousands of singers now feel includ-
ers experiencing? What forms of injustice are ed, simply due to a virtual choir option.
perpetuated against your community of sing-
ers? Wendy Moy: The LGBTQIA+ com-
munity is still experiencing discrimina-
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm: First, I tion, hate crimes, and legislation that
thank you, the choral directors, for what targets their rights in the areas of sports,
you are doing for the trans community. medical care, and classroom instruction.
My high school choral experience is one According to NPR, this year has set a record for the
of the few experiences I can remember number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state leg-
clearly. Numerous trans people recount a disconnect islatures. Chorosynthesis Singers, the Seattle Men’s
they had from their body and from memories from be- Chorus, and the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus are us-
fore they transitioned. I thought I was the only one, but ing music to break down stereotypes, open hearts and
I’m not. There are some strong memories, like camp- minds, and build empathy. We do that by sharing sto-
ing in the mountains. The other is singing in the choir. ries. Often, the concepts we have of a certain culture
If you have a participatory choral experience in ad- or identity are based on stereotypes. However, when
dition to a performative experience, that’s even better we go to a concert and hear about somebody’s chal-
for those that are struggling with their bodies because lenges and what they’ve overcome, the medium of mu-
they have this experience of feeling beautiful and feel- sic breaks down some of those barriers. We hope that
ing beauty in the world through singing. conversation and listening to other people’s stories will
A whole-body experience is so important for trans help create better relationships and understanding.
and gender-expansive people to be allowed to feel. As Chorosynthesis created the Empowering Silenced
for vocal parts, what we are learning now is to meet Voices Database, a free resource that contains pieces

60 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2023 Volume 64 Number 3