THE MIAMI GAY CHORUS IS PART OF
UNITY COALITION|COALICIÓN UNIDA

ENTERING A NEW ERA, A NEW FOCUS, & THE LAUNCH OF UC ARTS COALITION

Miami, Florida…October, 2022 -  In the fall of 1978, Jon Reed Sims founded the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. T his was a way to bring more music to the local Gay Freedom Day Parade, and to share the love o f music, brotherhood, and entertaining, and try to deal with the unimaginable health crisis now known as AIDS. This gave birth to a worldwide LGBTQ choral phenomenon that now boasts h undreds of choruses around the globe.

Established in 1999, the Miami Gay (Men's) Chorus has been bringing entertainment to the South Florida  community, inspiring and changing lives through the power of music and community building. But like many  cultural institutions, it has struggled with a dwindling membership, ticket sales, management, and staying relevant in an ever-changing community. Dealing with the real possibility of closing, and stopping the decades of music, the chorus has unanimously accepted close its doors for good.

UNITY COALITION|COALICIÓN UNIDA (UC|CU) the organization for the Latinx|Hispanic & Indigenous LGBTQ community, advancing Equality & Fairness, through Education, Leadership and Awareness, since 2002, with programming in Miami and Bogotá, “UC|CU was a big supporter of the former chorus and the arts, for years.” said director Herb Sosa. “We believe in its mission, legacy, and membership, and by creating a New Chorus, hope to help keep the chorus’s talents and intent, alive and thriving for decades to come” added Sosa.

Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida is introducing the UCARTSCOALITION, a collective of Music, Theater, Dance, Spoken Word and other artforms, to create innovative collaborations with LGBTQI+ focused talent. As part of this new initiative, the Miami Chorus exists as part of UC|CU, allow itself to reimagine its goals for the future, collaborate with other Arts & Performance groups, and present programming for a new generation and audience. “We want to sing, bring joy and smiles to our audiences and each other, and have the legacy of the former Miami Gay Men’s Chorus, live on” said MGC member & UC|CU board member, Joel Iglesia. “This new chorus, under Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida, is a chance to continue to sing, grow, consider new ways to share our music, and collaborate with other talented artists.”

The UCARTSCOALITION will have OPEN CALL Mixers in the next few months, welcoming all who want to be a part of the new, all LGBTQI+ inclusive, volunteer chorus voices and programming.

CONTACT US | CONTACTENOS chorus@unitycoalition.org

UNITY COALITION|COALICIÓN UNIDA NAMES LAURAH MERISIER AS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI GAY CHORUS – USHERING IN A NEW ERA, A NEW FOCUS, AND THE LAUNCH OF UC ARTS COALITION

Meet LAURAH MERISIER
Laurah is a passionate and dedicated music educator, choral conductor, and vocalist.

She has earned a bachelor’s degree of Music in Music Education from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and a master’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University. Laurah is the founder and executive artistic director of Miami Sound Space, a community music education organization, where she conducts Miami Sound Choir, an adult community choir in community engagement partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts, and the Bluebirds, a men’s Choir at the Everglades Correctional Institution.

She also serves as the Early Childhood Music Director with The Children’s Voice, a nonprofit children’s music education organization. Laurah is an Adjunct Professor of Contemporary Voice at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. In the past Laurah has worked as a music mentor, a general music teacher in Miami Dade County Schools, a Director of Choirs, Director of Musical Theatre, and Early Childhood Music Educator.

“I am thrilled at the possibilities and opportunity to take the legacy of the chorus and guide it into its next chapter.” said Laurah Merisier

We Work With the Best Partners

While we are at the forefront of and specialize in design-build, we are very familiar with a number of delivery methods and are confident we can find the process that will best help you meet your goals.

EVERY PENNY.

Our work is 100% funded by events, private donations, private,
corporate and government grants, and we are 100%
staffed and managed by professional volunteers.

Everything that comes in, goes right back out for Programming,
Community Building, Leading & Assisting our LGBTQ community.

GIVE WITH CONFIDENCE... UC|CU has been awarded the
2020 GOLD Seal of Approval for FUNDING by GUIDESTAR!
GuideStar is the world's largest source of information
on nonprofit organizations.

Our Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is 078399525.

DONATE