The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is a welcoming community of LGBTQ+ singers, volunteers, and allies who believe in the power of music to build connection, foster belonging, and celebrate our shared stories. Our mission is to bring people together through choral artistry—creating a safe, inclusive space where individuals can grow, express themselves, and contribute to a musical tradition that has strengthened Central New York for more than thirty years.
For us, the simple act of gathering is meaningful. Some members feel equally at home performing on stage or appearing in photos; others prefer privacy or a gentler approach to visibility. All are respected, valued, and encouraged to participate in ways that feel right for them. Our activism is woven into these choices: we sing, we support one another, and we nurture community through the quiet courage of showing up.
Our Story
In the spring of 1991, a performance by the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus inspired community members in Syracuse to imagine forming a similar ensemble here. After the concert, a sign-up sheet circulated—originally envisioning a men’s chorus. But when several courageous women added their names, the vision broadened immediately, setting the foundation for an inclusive, mixed-voice chorus.
By late summer of that year, more than thirty singers gathered for our very first rehearsal. Months of preparation blossomed into two sold-out holiday concerts in December 1991, marking the birth of a choral tradition grounded in pride, artistry, and belonging.
Since then, the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus has grown in number, skill, heart, and reach. We’ve performed regularly across Central New York and beyond, offering concerts that uplift LGBTQ+ visibility, celebrate community, and express the quiet bravery of showing up authentically—whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in the audience.
In January 2022, The NewsHouse at Syracuse University marked the chorus’s 30th anniversary with an in-depth feature on SGLC’s history and community. The article captures the chorus’s founding spirit — including the memory of founding member Deborah Hardy, who recalled how “standing up in front of anybody and everybody and declaring yourself to be a gay person was just scary as hell” in 1991 — and reflects on the deep bonds of chosen family that have sustained the chorus through decades of change, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read “A Chosen Family”: 30 Years Later, a Chorus Sings On by Kyle Henderson.
Our Music Director, Nick Godzak
Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Nick Godzak received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education (’16) and his Master’s in Choral Conducting (’19) from Syracuse University. As a graduate assistant, he led both University Singers and the Hendricks Chapel Choir; with the latter ensemble, he toured Mexico (’18) and worked as Artist in Residence at the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (’19). Nick returned to SU for the 2020–2021 academic year as an Adjunct Professor and Director of Vocal Jazz Ensembles. He currently serves as High School Choral Director for the Solvay Union Free School District in Solvay, NY, where he teaches Concert Chorus, Vocal Jazz, Music Theory, and Beginning Piano, and music directs the annual spring musical.
Adept at piano, Nick has been playing for over twenty-five years and has collaborated with soloists and ensembles throughout New York State. He also serves as Music Coordinator at St. Charles–St. Ann’s Parish in Syracuse, working as pianist, organist, and cantor. Both Solvay and St. Charles–St. Ann’s present an annual collaborative Advent Concert, raising money for the Solvay High School Choral Department and the parish’s food pantry.
Nick has also been singing for almost two decades, with eight years of professional vocal training. Vocal highlights include tenor soloist in Syracuse University Singers’ performance of Ariel Ramírez’s Misa Criolla (’25); soloist for the world premiere of José “Peppie” Calvar’s Kyrie de voces en exilio (’18); tenor in Cazenovia Chorale’s performance of Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass (’18); tenor in Syracuse Chorale’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem (’18); and featured tenor soloist in Calvar’s Mass of Reconciliation (’15).
When he isn’t working, Nick can be found in the kitchen living his “Ina Garten fantasy,” cooking five-star dinners for his fiancé, Colin, and their German Shepherd, Ozzy — who will inevitably lick the plates clean!
