Throughout June, there will be lots of events happening in honor of Pride Month. One event that stands out from the rest is Turtle Creek Chorale’s Pride as Big as Texas concert tour.
Turtle Creek Chorale is a predominantly gay men’s chorus that began in 1980. Since then, it has become the largest male chorus in Texas with over 250 singers. This year is the group’s 46th season, and they are kicking off the season with their first Pride show in years.
“Our singers told us that they want us to be bolder and to use our voice to unite our communities,” said Dawson B. Taylor, executive director of the Turtle Creek Chorale.
The Pride as Big as Texas concert celebrates the pride in the LGBTQ community and features songs by beloved Texas artists like Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves and Beyoncé. There will also be compositions by Marques Garrett, Victor Johnson and many other Texas composers.
Amongst the music, members of the choir will also be telling stories of what it meant to grow up gay in Texas or to move to Texas and to be an out gay person. The shows will take place at different churches around North Texas.
“We’re going into churches that are not just churches, but they’re affirming and welcoming places,” said Roscoe Compton-Kelly, member of the Turtle Creek Chorale. “I think that we have made this connection with these local churches and have been welcomed with open arms.”
• June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk St., Tyler. Tickets are $20 each.
• June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Broadway Baptist Church, 305 W. Broadway Ave., Fort Worth. Tickets are $50 each. turtlecreekchorale.com.