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.
Our Music Director
Music Director Brian Ackles
Brian Ackles is a veteran music educator and conductor with over thirty-six years of experience teaching, performing, and sharing music with others. As a conductor and educator, Ackles has taught a variety of vocal ensembles and general music classes at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Ackles is the music director of the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus starting Spring 2023, the choir director at the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, and a guest conductor of community choirs and local Junior and Senior High Music Festivals in the Central New York area.
Ackles is the vocal music teacher for Marcellus High School in Marcellus, New York, where his ensembles consistently receive top rankings at regional competitions and music festivals. Ackles graduated from Westminster Choir College and holds a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
In addition to his conducting duties, Ackles has served as a clinician for regional in-services and state music conferences in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Ackles’ research interests include supporting and implementing student-to-student collaboration in the classroom and musical independence in the rehearsal setting. In 2018, Ackles published an article in the Choral Journal presenting his new strategy for student-centered music education called The Agile Development Instructional Framework. With his monthly music education blog, Leading Voices, Ackles shared this new paradigm and other instructional strategies for the American Choral Directors Association on Choralnet.org.
As an active educator, conductor, and vocalist, Ackles is dedicated to promoting music’s intrinsic nature and transforming power. His goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where all ensemble members are welcomed and are excited to create a shared passion and understanding through musical excellence. Through these experiences, individual musicians become aware of their musical and personal gifts and share these insights with the ensemble and their audiences.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up workers to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea”.
Attributed to Antoine de Saint
