The group Artemis Singers is known as Chicago's celebrated lesbian feminist chorus.
Among many career highlights, the group has been inducted into the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, and performed at the marriage-equality bill-signing in 2013. Currently thirty-seven women meet weekly to prepare for concerts such as the chorus' May 31 show at Broadway United Methodist Church. The choir, in existence since 1980, has been home to countless friendships and relationships. But a recent addition to the choir stands out.
Hilary Marsh and Roxy Sawczynec, who have been in Artemis for about a year, are mother and daughter. Both fell in love with music at an early age, and when Sawczynec, who'd been in elementary school choruses, mentioned she felt like singing again, Marsh told Sawczynec about this choir she was joining. This step hearkened back to the family's days in New York, when Marsh joined a lesbian and gay chorus after coming out. "Choruses are good for getting people together to have fun and make something beautiful," Marsh said. "It's not the bar scene, and usually, you make great friends."
When she moved to Chicago in 1997, Marsh looked for another chorus. She first heard about Artemis at a concert a few years ago. "Everyone looked like they were having a really fun time. They were singing girl group songs from the '50s and '60s," she said. "I thought about joining, but the location was just not convenient until I started working from home."
While Artemis had a traditional music director in its early days, that dissipated into a more feminist practice. "A huge thing to me that sets Artemis apart is that the members of the chorus act as directors," Marsh said. "One of the reasons I've left choruses before is that the director's vision wasn't my vision, the songs they were picking wasn't music that I liked to sing. Here, you have the opportunity to help choose the music. It's different than having an employee—do they work for you or do you work for them?
"I asked once, 'What does the chorus do with the money from ticket sales?' And part of what they do is subsidize women to travel to the Sister Singers choral music festival. They don't assume that everyone can afford to go. That's also different than any other chorus I've been in."
Artemis helped host the festival in 2010 at Loyola University, a huge honor.
"It's all music about women, about feminism," Sawczynec added. "You're not just singing songs that are pretty, but you're singing songs that are meaningful to the people singing them." Sawczynec hadn't heard of Artemis before Marsh's involvement. She said this is possibly because of the age group the chorus attracts. "I'm the youngest member, by a lot," she says.
Marsh was struck by Artemis' sense of community. She's been to holiday parties and camping trips—even having her partner, who's not a member, join her and be welcomed. She mentioned the members' email list.
"People share everything, from 'I have paint to give away' to 'Does anyone know a good lawyer' to 'Here's a cool concert,'" Marsh said. "And people are amazingly generous with their time and each other. Just like you could call a cousin, you could call anyone in the chorus. Once you're in, you're in for life."
While Sawczynec enjoys the music and particularly appreciates that the choir lets her learn by ear and at her own pace, she said she would love for younger members to join. "I think it would change the dynamic of the songs they pick," she said. "And just for meeting people. My mom has made a bunch of friends and I'm having a good time, but it would be really cool to have a chorus for 30 and younger." Sawczynec added that there's no audition and that members have varied skill levels—"very much the feminist ethos."
"I think everyone's learning a lot from having you here," Marsh said. The mother and daughter's relationship has always been close; they live close by, have dinner every Sunday and are learning to knit together, but the chorus ensures that they will have things to talk about and get to see each other. Both feel Artemis has welcomed them with open arms, asking them to sing solos in the upcoming concert.
A sense of history pervades Artemis, they said. Each member is given a document explaining the organization's changes throughout the years. And of course, there's the special magic singing brings. Sawczynec recalled the tradition at the end of rehearsal where chorus members request "Happy Birthdays." Out of the blue, someone's friend will be dialed and the entire chorus sings to them, whether for birthdays or hospital visits.
Marsh has a treasured memory of the chorus' giving nature. At the concert she attended years ago, she won a raffle for a free "Happy Birthday" singing telegram. The following July, she took her partner out for a birthday dinner. As they were heading into the restaurant, her partner noticed a bunch of familiar-looking women across the street. The chorus soon headed into the restaurant and proceeded to serenade her with "Happy Birthday" in full harmony. "She was blown away," Marsh said. Now, she and Sawczynec can sing along, and sing together.
"A Feminist Mosaic," Artemis Singer's Pride concert and dance at Broadway United Methodist Church, 3338 N. Broadway, begins at 7:30 p.m on Saturday, May 31. Tickets are $10-$20; visit artemisfeministmosaic.brownpapertickets.com or at Women & Children First bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St.
