The Turtle Creek Chorale and Dallas Symphony Orchestra performed together for the first time on Sept. 19, 2023. (Jeremy Holland/Dallas Voice)
Sean Baugh entered the stage cool and calm as if this was just another Dallas Symphony-Turtle Creek Chorale collaboration. Accompanist Scott Ayers sat down at the piano composed — all as if this was just another performance with the DSO.
Instead, it was an historic event for the Dallas arts community — the first time the two groups had performed together — and hopefully not the last. And I’m not the only one who would like to see this become an annual event judging by the nearly sold-out symphony center and the rousing standing ovations throughout the concert.
The 200 men’s voices blended beautifully with the full orchestra and the finale, with TCC accompanist Scott Ayers on the Lay Family organ, had the audience screaming for more.
Baugh explained the theme of the concert as “we are one” at a time when the country feels so divided. “We Are One” was also the encore song — but planned encore to Ayers’ organ performance of “The Awakening.”
Unity ran throughout the program including a wonderful collaboration with the Unity Choir, a gospel choir that performed with the DSO in June. Soloist Tremaine Graham took my breath away in his rousing performance of “For Every Mountain.” This is a collaboration with the chorale that must continue as well.
The Make-A-Wish North Texas Choir — 11 children who have participated in the make-a-wish program — joined the chorale and orchestra on stage for several numbers. Calling them cute or adorable is demeaning. Charming? Yes, they were. But let’s just say they were good and added warmth and love to the evening. I hope they got as much out of performing with the DSO and TCC as the audience felt having them on stage.
The Turtle Creek Chorale soloists throughout the show reminded me just how much talent there is in this very professional volunteer organization. To name a favorite is impossible because each solo soared.
And the symphony, well, what can I say about one of the country’s finest orchestras? I hope the collaboration was as meaningful to them and they’ll invite Maestro Baugh and company back next season.
— David Taffet
The TCC began 43 years and what a half century it has been. For gay people it has been mostly a sea change of visibility and a flowering of all things gay. The DSO has been here on and off for over 100 years. They have endured two World Wars and the bumpy road of the 20th century.
This concert celebrates the social change which made this event possible. It celebrates the bravery and tenacity of people who made it happen, year by year and bit by bit. 43 years ago it was a revolutionary act to form choirs of gay people openly singing together. Now LGBTQ choirs sing for Presidents and Monarchs.
The important thing is that it happened. As to the performers, they did everything and they did it very well. All of them.
Bravo to all.