Tim Seelig, director of Art for Peace & Justice has been appointed as the first artistic director in residence for GALA Choruses, the international service organization for all LGBT choruses, it has been announced.
The position was created to offer member choruses artistic mentorship and provide artistic vision and direction to GALA events, projects and programs, officials said.
Seelig will begin his new position on Jan. 1, while continuing his work with Art for Peace & Justice, a program of the non-profit organization Hope for Peace & Justice, a position he assumed in August 2007.
In addition, Seelig remains on the faculty at Southern Methodist University, and he continues to conduct concerts, to speak and to present workshops across the United States and Canada.
His second instructional DVD and third book on choral technique will be released in early 2008 by Shawnee Press, Inc.
Seelig is also conductor emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale.
"To be selected as the first artistic director in residence for more than 100 choruses is both daunting and extraordinarily exciting," Seelig said.
"GALA Choruses and the Turtle Creek Chorale literally changed my life over the last 20 years. I will always be grateful for what they did for me personally and professionally. I only hope I can give back to the organization a small part of what it has given to me."
The Rev. Michael Piazza, president of Hope for Peace and Justice said that the appointment is "an exciting opportunity" for both Seelig and Art for Peace and Justice.
"His work with LGBT choruses throughout the world can only strengthen our efforts to create a culture of peace and justice through the creative gifts of artists of all kinds," Piazza said.
The GALA Choruses, founded in 1982, is an international association of LGBT and allied choruses that works to foster the artistic and organizational development of member choruses through a wide variety of programs and services.
GALA Choruses produces choral festivals, educational conferences and several publications. Since its inception, GALA Choruses has produced six international festivals, provided more than $40,000 in matching grants for commissioned works, and conducted more than 25 conferences and vocal training workshops.
GALA Choruses supports more than 120 choruses singing to audiences totaling more than one million individuals.
Hope for Peace and Justice, based in Dallas, works to create progressive faith-based activists and to create a cultural orientation/bias toward peace and justice through the arts and artists. The group is partnering with the Cathedral of Hope to build the Philip Johnson-designed Interfaith Peace Chapel.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 21, 2007.