LGBTQ+ and power to the people!!

In celebration of Juneteenth, we’re honored to highlight OGMC Tenor 1 member Susan Brown—a storyteller, artist, and vibrant voice in our community whose journey to the chorus is as unique as it is inspiring. 

“Let’s start out by recognizing Juneteenth and its meaning,” Susan begins. “Juneteenth is a holiday that marks when the people in the South received the message that slavery was over. However, slavery ended six months earlier, but the South was so racist that the people were not told until June 19th. Hence, Juneteenth!

This is a celebration of freedom, equality, and community, and a celebration of Black history and Black people. June is also Pride Month and about being proud of who you are and being resilient in that pride.”

As a woman of color, Susan reflects on the significance of Juneteenth with honesty and strength. “Women have always had to fight for their place in the world,” she says. “And Black women have had to fight even harder.”

She notes the deep connection between communities who have faced systemic challenges. “There’s a reason why Black women and the LGBTQ+ community have often stood together—we understand struggle, resilience, and the need for joy and connection.

So, what a perfect time to celebrate Juneteenth along with Pride. The music that we are singing for our summer concert focuses on music by Bay Area composers (hence our concert title “Music By The Bay”). These songs, largely from the 1960s and 70s, are based on resilience and being our true selves!”

Finding OGMC

Susan didn’t set out looking for a chorus—but sometimes the right community finds you. “I had a podcast called Beyond the Fog Radio, where I interviewed people about the arts, culture, and history of San Francisco and the Bay Area,” she shares. “Wally Bee and Steve Smith came on the podcast to talk about the history of the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus. That’s how it all started.”

A chance neighborhood connection with Wally soon led to an invitation—and something clicked. “I wasn’t looking for a chorus at all. But the moment I heard the word audition, I was in. I hadn’t auditioned for anything in a long time, and I was so excited to do it again.”

A Creative Background—Without the ‘Traditional’ Path

Susan’s artistic roots come from theater, not music. “I studied theater from age 13 all the way through college. I have a BFA from NYU and a master’s in film from USC,” she explains. “But I hadn’t performed or auditioned in years.”

While she sang informally and participated in community singing groups like Circle Singing, she doesn’t consider herself traditionally trained.

“I don’t really have a formal music background. I don’t read music fluently or play an instrument—but I love to sing.”

In OGMC, Susan sings in the Tenor 1 section—something that surprised her at first. “In a mixed choir I’d be an alto, but here I’m a Tenor 1. I do get a little jealous of the range sometimes,” she laughs, “but I absolutely love it.”

A Place of Healing and Belonging

For Susan, OGMC has been more than a musical experience—it’s been deeply personal. “Being in this chorus has been healing in every way—my heart, my soul, every fiber of my body,” she says. “It’s so inclusive, so kind, so supportive.”

As a straight woman in a traditionally gay men’s chorus, Susan has felt nothing but welcome. “I’m not a gay man—I’m a heterosexual woman—but I have felt completely embraced. It’s such a loving, open community.”

She shares that joining OGMC came during a time of personal transition. “I had gone through a difficult breakup and was in a very tender place. The chorus gave me a space to heal—through music, through movement, through connection. It helped me find my way back to myself.”

Getting Involved

Since joining, Susan has jumped into multiple aspects of chorus life. She has supported the chorus through the Marketing Committee, the Governance Committee, and by conducting exit interviews for departing board members.

“I love being involved and learning how the organization works,” she says. “It’s another way to connect and contribute.”

The Power of the Music

Susan speaks passionately about the impact of OGMC’s programming. “Bruce has such a gift for choosing music that carries a message. Every concert feels powerful—and then somehow the next one is even more powerful.”

She points to our recent spring season as especially meaningful. “Our spring concert reflected what’s happening in the world right now—politically, socially—but it also connects us to the past. It’s about standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.”

For Susan, the experience goes beyond performance. “It feels like we’re not just singing—we’re calling out to the world. We’re saying, ‘Join us. Be part of this. Stand together.’”

And Yes… She Dances Too

Susan’s love of performance extends beyond singing. “I always audition for featured dancer roles—I love it,” she says.

Audiences may have already spotted her in past performances, as a pirate perhaps!

And in the spring concert… “I was in a full inflatable pink pony costume,” she laughs. “You couldn’t even have recognized me—but that’s part of the fun!”

Final Thoughts

Susan’s story is a reminder that there is no single path into the arts—and no single way to belong.

Sometimes it starts with a conversation.

Sometimes with an audition.

And sometimes, exactly when you need it most, you find yourself in a room full of people who help you heal.