After 18 years of dedicated service, artistic vision and contribution to the cultural landscape of the City of Chicago, Patrick Sinozich has decided it is time to retire from his position as Artistic Director of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus after the 2014 holiday concert. He is very excited to seek out new adventures and challenges in the coming years and we are excited for him. It is certainly bittersweet for the entire CGMC family. We will certainly miss his vision and leadership but are thrilled for what the future holds for him. Looking ahead, we will quickly begin the search for our next Artistic Director to help us continue to create experiences that entertain and enlighten, inspire change and build community.
I want to share with you Patrick's statement which was shared with membership at tonight's rehearsal, along with a statement of support from the Board of Directors.
Please watch for more news as we announce plans to celebrate Patrick's invaluable achievements over the last 18 years as well as progress on finding the right next AD to lead us to even more success in the future. And please be sure to join us at our upcoming events to enjoy CGMC's special brand of entertainment and wish Patrick well in his future endeavors.
Thank you for your support,
Kent Bartram
CGMC Executive Director
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Dear Board, Members and Fans of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus-
It is with a proud heart but a heavy spirit that I write to tell you that I will be retiring from my position as Artistic Director of CGMC at the end of the 2014 holiday concerts. After making great music and great memories for eighteen years, I find it is now time to step off the podium and follow my path to new adventures and challenges.
The December 2014 concerts will conclude 50 full productions; hundreds of song arrangements; GALA performances in San Jose, Miami, Montreal and Denver; four CDs; and music making with hundreds of talented singers.
The crazy, amazing and moving times we've shared have made a deep impression on me. I remember singing "against" protesters at Millennium Park, and years later returning there to sing for an audience of over 18,000. I remember audiences brought to tears and standing ovations at our remarkable and moving performances. I remember run-out gigs in living rooms and libraries, churches and street corners, ballrooms, bars, bakeries, museums, hospitals and schools. In our shows we've travelled to ancient Egypt, venerable monasteries, desert islands, royal ships, and even around the world. Together we've sung the music of every decade of the last century, as well as new works written just for CGMC. We've sung a cappella, with piano, with trio, with tracks, with jazz-band and with full orchestra.
I don't know where I'll ever find the wealth of talent and enthusiasm that I've found in CGMC. I don't know if I'll ever encounter a group so willing to try new things, put in extra hours, and push themselves to their limits. In the last eighteen years we've grown from sixty-five to one hundred and sixty-five, while counting over 1300 alumni since the chorus's start.
And through it all, I have been honored to serve in my own small way as your director. Yet while every ship has its captain, it takes a huge crew of singers and support members to take us where we are. Amazing people have come into my life. Lifelong friends have appeared who will always be with me. And there are those we've lost along the way.
Soon an appointed group will begin the search for CGMC's next Artistic Director. I have complete faith that an appropriate and exciting candidate will be chosen for the position. I hope that you will collaborate closely with those doing the search, and that you'll offer them your support and encouragement.
I thank you for your generosity of time and talent, and for helping to make the last eighteen years the most memorable of my life. I look forward to all of us celebrating new collaborations in the years to come, and know that I will always be a supporter of Chicago's Most Colorful Chorus.
All the best,
Patrick Sinozich
CGMC Artistic Director
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Board Statement from President Ben Hladilek:
Dear Chorus Members, Alums and Supporters,
On behalf of the CGMC Board of Directors, let me be the first to thank Patrick and wish him success and happiness in his future endeavors. CGMC has been blessed to have Patrick's creative input and musical leadership over the last 18 years. We also appreciate Patrick's dedication to this organization as evidenced by his desire for a thoughtful and successful transition.
As Artistic Director, Patrick has brought a very unique skillset of artistic creativity, skillful conducting, beautiful original works, and innovative arrangements and orchestrations. While this makes him very hard to replace, we are taking this opportunity to build upon his incredible legacy and find the right artistic director to help lead us into the future. The Board has asked long-time member Peter Hillsman to lead a Search Committee of CGMC members, Directors and staff. The Committee will begin a national search, looking for someone with experience in directing a choral organization who has strong artistic vision and leadership. Any successful candidate needs to share CGMC's values and support our mission to create musical experiences that entertain and enlighten, inspire change, and build community.
As the search process kicks-off, our preparation for an exciting Spring concert series continues uninterrupted. We are very excited about the work Patrick and the Chorus are doing to prepare for the upcoming show "Bouncing of the Walls: Broadway our Way". Patrick will continue to serve as Artistic Director through the 2014 holiday concert season and we look forward to making these last shows of his tenure his finest by far. This is a strong time for CGMC with exciting upcoming concerts, financial stability, a great Executive Director, engaged Board of Directors and amazing members.
While we will certainly miss Patrick's energy and leadership, he assures us he will join the ranks of our other alums as an active supporter of CGMC. This summer you will hear more about our plans to celebrate Patrick's legacy. This includes establishing an Endowment Fund that will help support CGMC's ongoing musical goals. We hope you will join us in thanking Patrick for his artistic creativity, motivation, friendship and passion. He has truly had an incredible impact on CGMC and Chicago for the past 18years.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.
Sincerely,
Ben Hladilek
President
CGMC Board of Directors
