Story

Founded in 1983, SVGMC was first called the Liedermann Chorus of San Jose. A group of ten men sang the first full-length concert under the direction of Robert B. Welton on June 16, 1984, as part of San Jose’s Gay Pride Celebration. In 1988, we changed our name to the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus (SVGMC), embracing and more openly identifying ourselves as a singing group made up of out, gay, and proud men.

Singing at nearly every City of San José annual Pride flag-raising ceremony, SVGMC is also honored to have performed the national anthem at several sporting events including the San Francisco Giants and we are the first LGBTQ+ organization to do so at San Jose Earthquakes and San Jose Giants games.

Past Artistic Directors

Robert Welton (1983-1984)
Jim Clarke (1984-1986)
Dan Jepson (1986-1988)
Lynne McLaughlin (1988-1994)
Buddy Symes (1994-2003)
Daniel Hughes (2003-2008)
D. Asa Stern (Interim Director, 2009)
Jonathan P. Ulrich (2009-2010)
Shawn Reifschneider (2010-2021)

Awards

Human Relations Award from Santa Clara County
Commendation from the City of San José
Recognition Awards from the California Assembly and Senate for Contributions to the LGBTQ+ Community

Fifth Section

The names that follow are of former members of the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus who have died. Over the years, each of them contributed in their own ways to the growth and success of our Chorus, and for that, we honor their memories.

If you know of others who should be listed here please contact us.

Gilles Bosco
Michael Bryan
Mark Chapa
Jim Clarke
Peter Conroy
Bill Cooksley
Will Cunningham
Jeffrey Gentry
Larry Giordano
Ira Greene