The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus are coming together on March 15 for “This Is Me!” The concert by the choruses, known collectively as Voices of Note, is their first joint performance in over a decade and will feature songs about body acceptance and diverse experiences of body image and self-esteem.
“This Is Me!” is a concert that will bring together more than 200 singers to create a bold statement — for the singers and the audience — that queer people are here, are proud, and their voices will not be silenced.
“When the Atlanta Women’s Chorus (AWC) and Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) come together as Voices of Note, they perform more than a concert — it’s closer to musical theater and production,” said Felicia Seamón, director of development for Voices of Note. “We are looking at a transformative journey … towards self love and acceptance.”
On March 14, the day before concert, the choruses will host “Every Body is Beautiful,” a free community event at Tea’z Social in Little Five Points. There will be a panel discussion with local body diversity leaders, a free burlesque demonstration, health resources and more.
“The redefining of body image and challenging those societal norms, the songs and production absolutely will do that,” Seamón said. But it was also important to resources available from organizations that have and expertise to challenge those norms and provide information on how to do so, she said.
The concert will feature performances such as the AGMC’s rendition of “Creep” by Radiohead. The AWC will perform “Perfect” by P!nk and “What Was I Made For” from the “Barbie” soundtrack – songs that explore themes of self-acceptance, confidence, and finding one’s place in the world.
Nicole Cabrera-Salazar said after coming out later in life, they found community and support within the Atlanta Women’s Chorus and Voices of Note. “This Is Me!” is a performance, on the surface, that is about body positivity, but it goes deeper than that.
“What we’re tapping into with this music is a sort of body liberation movement that has to do with not just loving and accepting your body, but taking our bodies as something more than than a vessel that has to be beautiful and esthetically pleasing,” they said.
“I personally think about this concert less in terms of body image, and more in terms of sort of body acceptance and radical self love,” Cabrera-Salazar said.
Voices of Note will perform “This Is Me!” twice on March 15 — one show at 2 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. Both performances are at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on Emory University’s campus, 1660 N Decatur Road. Tickets and information are available here.
The March 14 outreach event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Tea’z Social, 337 Moreland Ave.
