South Coast Chorale

Founded in 1990, the South Coast Chorale is a community vocal ensemble comprised of individuals who simply enjoy singing and working together. Based in the LGBTQ+ community, SCC is proud to be a diverse ensemble that encompasses friends, families & supporters, all of whom are dedicated to building bridges between communities by using music to remind us all that we are more alike than different.

Over the years, SCC has filled a vital role in helping to enhance the cultural and educational life of greater Long Beach through partnerships with local community organizations. The Chorale commemorated the 15th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death with an original musical tribute, Beyond the Fence; in partnership with The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, pre-performance panel discussions were held for local youth organizations on the topics of homophobia, bullying and school violence. Most recently, the Chorale presented the Southern California premiere of Street Requiem, honoring those who have lived and died on the streets; a portion of ticket sales were donated to the creation of programs for homeless youth that identify as LGBT, and over 100 items of clothing, food and hygiene products were donated to local homeless organizations.

SCC musically explores various themes of importance to the LGBTQ+ community. The Chorale has presented remembrance concerts that provided a musical voice to the struggle of those affected by HIV & AIDS. Chorale members presented actual coming-out stories in a critically-acclaimed musical production, Out!. In 2018, SCC performed the West Coast premiere of Bayard Rustin: The Man Behind the Dream, a choral tribute to the life and accomplishments of openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin; the award-nominated performance received recognition from the NAACP, local city leaders, and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris.

The Chorale has established a reputation of performances that are distinguished for their LGBTQ+ diversity and artistic excellence, receiving community nominations and audience praise over the years. From traditional choral concerts to original musical parodies like Beauty and the Butch and Fake Newsies, the many talented singers that have graced the ranks of SCC have performed for thousands of audience members all over the US and Canada, spreading musical messages that resound with echoes of inclusion, acceptance & equality.