14 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE The organizational changes have not slowed since the name change. The chorus’s longtime artistic director, Marc Gaston, stepped away from his position this year after an illustrious 22-year tenure. An extensive national search found Lozano, who was selected to take on the role. “My biggest thing is not taking over, not replacing, not reinventing new things to create our own identity,” Lozano said. “We have an identity. We just need to keep that going while honoring the path paved before us.” The 94-member chorus hosts two yearly concerts: a holiday concert in December and an end-of-season concert in June. It also partners with other Valley organizations throughout the year to spread love, music and pride. PHXGMC has sent many members to Dancing for one•n•ten, a ballroom competition fundraiser for LGBTQ youth programs, as well as Aunt Rita’s Aids Walk, and they perform at World AIDS Day in partnership with Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. It also participates in Men Do Sing (formerly known as Boys to Men), a yearly event bringing Arizona youth and adult men’s choruses together, hosted by Orpheus Men’s Chorus. “It’s a big showcase of all the different men’s choruses as a way to show the younger singers there that there’s a pipeline that you can continue to sing beyond high school, beyond junior high,” said Sours. In 2012, it established Omaggio, an LGBTQ chorus, Originally a recital choir, PHXGMC has grown into a “show chorus,” with performances featuring costuming, staging, video productions, dance and orchestration. CREATING CULTURE

Our mission is to provide free breast health education, mammograms, testing, and direct assistance to breast cancer patients with wigs, support, and resources in Arizona. 501(c)(3) #27-4626148 www.checkforalump.org | 602-688-5232 Free programs! Support local! Donate | Volunteer | Sponsor Education | Mammograms | Wigs | Support Check for a Lump learn more! providing a safe space for youth to explore their artistic expression and growth. This season, the chorus is thrilled to relaunch the program in collaboration with one•n•ten. Once a group consisting of mostly older singers, the chorus has its sights set on reaching a younger core, opening up opportunities for future artists and creating a community for gay artists in the Valley. PHXGMC hosts biannual open auditions in August and January, where participants have 15 minutes to showcase their talents. The chorus consists of both experienced musicians and amateurs. This isn’t a dog-eat-dog, disputatious group with members clawing for solos like you see in movies. As Lozano puts it, “It was a warm hug when I walked through the door. That’s what it felt like. It was very safe.” Those who want to be involved with the organization but are not singers can volunteer in other ways, like technical and fundraising support, as well as board membership.