SDGMC Joe Gregore-Duffield
By JP Emerson
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Joe Gregory-Duffield and I have been in the chorus for 27 years. After many years in the theater, I joined the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in 1991 and sang with them for five years, then upon moving to San Diego, I joined the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus (SDGMC).
How did become involve with the SDGMC?
Because of my experience with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, I looked for a chorus when I moved to San Diego and it’s been a wonderful experience.
Can you give us the history of the SDGMC?
The chorus has been in existence for 40 years. I have been with them for 27 years. The chorus has been a beacon of light and ambassadors of music and hope in the gay community and the San Diego community in general. We have been there when marriage quality was past nationally, we were there with our community to mourn the loss of the lives from the Orlando Pulse shooting. We provide the soundtrack of all the major events in our community and we also entertain the San Diego audiences with our exciting shows with singing, dancing, visual expressions.
The chorus is celebrating 40 years, can you tell us what this milestone means for the members?
For members that have been in the chorus for a long time, this milestone represents their legacy. The legacy of all the hard work and dedication of people that are no longer with us because of AIDS or that are still with us and are struggling with age. This milestone represents resilience and a sense of hope. Seeing the new blood come into the chorus is exciting, however honoring the past is so important. Especially in the current state of our nation it feels like we are going backwards to the same oldstruggles that we had just a little different, but the fight is the same. And the chorus is there to help lift the community again as we have always done.
The holiday season is upon us and with it comes the annual “Jingle” concerts. What can folks expect this year from the SDGMC?
The music for Jingle 2024 is fun. It’s upbeat, moving and fun. Audiences will enjoy hearing the wonderful music and the big band.
What are your favorite holiday traditions?
Holiday traditions are really being with each other, December Night’s performance and the Jingle show.
How can folks connect with the chorus?
Go to our website sdgmc.org.