When I was growing up, I was always told all the things I couldn’t do, what I wouldn’t be and who I’d never become. I remember my father’s last words: “You will fail.” The mere thought of being gay was sinful, punishable by disownment. My life was planned out, and I was to become a soldier in the Army. A …

I moved to Cincinnati in 1993 to attend the College-Conservatory of Music. Part of the decision to come to Cincinnati (instead of other schools) was the existence of the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus. I wanted to be a part of the chorus because 1) I was officially coming out and needed some support, and 2) I wanted a social outlet apart …

When I was preparing to move to Cincinnati in 1996, I came to town for a weekend trip to find an apartment. My parents, who live in Northwest Ohio, drove down to help with the hunt. After I signed a lease on a nice place in Clifton (a couple blocks from where CMC now rehearses), my folks decided it was …

Confessions of a Chorus Virgin CMC’s December holiday concerts were the “coming out” for six new chorus members, including baritone Bryndan Kinard. We asked Bryndan, a graduate of Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, what that first concert was like. The preparation was hard. Wearing a tuxedo was not high on his list of reasons for joining the chorus. …

We are not just a group of men that formed a club and like to sing. As gay and gay-supportive people, we sing to change lives, build relationships, and create a just world. Each of our members has a story to tell about how the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus has made a positive impact in the world, and this season we …