About Us
Brief History of Council Oak Men's Chorale
The chorale was formed in 1998 from a group of 12 singers that came together to provide music for a World AIDS Day memorial service. Founded by Rick Fortner, they had no official name. Their hope was to provide support to the families and friends of those affected by HIV and AIDS. From there, the idea of supporting an ongoing gay men’s chorus in Tulsa took root.
From its modest beginnings, this small group of dedicated singers has grown into an organization that is known throughout the nation for it’s vocal excellence. From a one-time memorial service, performances have grown to include a three-concert season with numerous additional performances making COMC a year-round organization.
COMC performance venues include the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Philbrook’s Festival of Trees, and numerous local churches and community organizations.
Vocal Pride Foundation
The vision of the Vocal Pride Foundation is to foster communication, enhance cooperation and build bridges through performing arts in Tulsa and surrounding communities by supporting gay, lesbian and affirming arts organizations that further their creative and artistic endeavors in the community.
Vision & Membership
Council Oak Men’s Chorale is affirming and inclusive to all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. By highlighting voices that sing in the tenor- bass range, we honor the rich history of the gay men's choir. Our vision is to create a warm family atmosphere for our members while also giving back to Tulsa through visibility, advocacy, and a high level of musical excellence. We invite people of all gender identities who can sing comfortably in this range to audition. Some musical experience is required due to the difficulty of our repertoire. However, the chorale also strives to make membership accessible by providing practice resources and a supportive environment for learning musical skills.
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Individuals who are interested in membership should send an email to the Artistic Director at counciloakdirector@gmail.com.
