Grand Canyon Performing Arts Welcomes you
Grand Canyon Performing Arts – a voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intergender community – strives to be a premiere performing arts organization that unites, inspires, educates and entertains its members, diverse audiences, and supporting partners.
Our History
In the Fall of 1990, a steering committee was formed to establish a new men’s choral group in the Phoenix area. A small promotional group began rehearsing and making appearances during the holiday season to recruit additional members. The Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale was officially established in January 1991 under the artistic direction of Ron Casola. In 2002, Marc Gaston was appointed as Artistic Director of Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale. Under Marc’s direction, the group doubled in size and was transformed from simply a recital-style group to a “show chorus.” Featured performances include costuming, staging and orchestration. With this expansion, the flagship chorus was renamed “Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus” in 2006. Two small ensembles – Canyon Echoes and Harmonic Vibrations – were added to the mix, and in 2007 an instrumental group – the Philharmonic Ensemble – was launched.
Performance highlights have included: International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, Equality Arizona Annual Gala, World AIDS Day, National anthem performed at Phoenix Suns games and AGRA Rodeo, and Benefit performances for PFLAG and Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
PMMC has performed or collaborated with many local and national artists and organizations, including: Arizona Women In Tune, Desert Voices, Reveille Gay Men’s Chorus, Folk singer Holly Near, Comedian Leslie Jordan, and the Forever Young Dancers.
PMMC is a member of GALA Choruses (the International Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses), and has participated in five GALA Festivals: Tampa, FL (1996), San Jose, CA (2000), Seattle, WA (2002), Montreal, Canada (2004), and Miami, FL (2008).
Artistic Staff:
Marc Gaston - Executive Artistic Director, Grand Canyon Performing Arts
Artistic Director, Harmonic Vibrations,
Darlene Larkins- Accompanist, Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus
Board of Directors:
Edmond (Marc) McAllister - Chairman
Jake Tommerup - Vice Chair/Secretary
Board Members At Large:
Daniel Ruacho
David Vance
Lee Revelle
Ed Helms
Bobby Gordon
Marc Gaston - Ex Officio
Board Member Governance Council:
Greg Linneman - Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus President
