As Ohio lawmakers continue to pass legislation to restrict the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, a new opportunity will provide LGBTQ+ youth with a chance to raise their voices: in song.
The Music Settlement, a community music school in Cleveland founded in 1912, will be hosting Youth Pride Choir Camp, a two-week opportunity for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18 looking to express themselves through song in a safe, identity-affirming environment.
“I’m a former middle school choir teacher and I have seen firsthand how the choir room can be a safe haven for queer youth,” said Jessica Gallagher-Steuver, the instructor for the camp and a lecturer of music education at Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. “I wanted to bring that here to Cleveland.”
Youth Pride Choir Camp will run from June 15-26, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Music Settlement’s Ohio City location. The cost for the two weeks is $395, and there are 40 spots available.
The camp was created when Gallagher-Steuver – artistic director of Windsong, Cleveland’s feminist chorus – joined the board of GALA Choruses, a coalition of over 200 LGBTQ+ choruses across the country. After seeing that other states offered youth LGBTQ+ chorus experiences, she looked around the Ohio landscape to find one for local youth.
“I brought this idea to The Music Settlement, and they immediately were so supportive,” she said.
Gallagher-Steuver describes the three-hour days as “a very long choir rehearsal, mixed with some social-emotional learning.” Youth will start the day with vocal, physical and mental warmups before working on songs like “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper, “Brave” by Sarah Bareilles and a choral arrangement of “You Will Be Found” from the hit musical “Dear Evan Hansen.”
“We’re really focusing in on songs that celebrate our awesome, unique selves,” she said.
The camp will culminate in a community concert on Friday, June 26th at the Bop Stop, Cleveland’s premier listening room, owned and operated by The Music Settlement. The concert is free and open to the public.
In addition to the vocal work, the Youth Pride Choir Camp will also provide space for the youth to play some games, get to know each other and build a sense of trust, community and camaraderie in the room.
“Sometimes when you have so many people in a room, it can be really hard to feel like you are seen or understood,” Gallagher-Steuver said. “We will be giving them the opportunity to see and understand each other, which is so needed for these youth in these scary political times.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Learn more about the Youth Pride Choir Camp by visiting the camp’s registration page here.
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