For the last 25 years audiences have watched the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus perform at the Cathedral of St. Philip during the holiday season. Their holiday concert series is known for its unique combination of beauty, humor, and its message of unity and inclusion.
This years show “Holiday Concert: 25 Years in the Cathedral” will be available to stream Dec. 4-6. The concert will feature holiday classics like “Oh Holy Night” and “Frosty the Snowman” along with AGMC classics like “Super Gay Christmas” and “Recycle the Fruitcake.”
Don Milton, the artistic director for the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to talk about this Atlanta holiday tradition.
Interview Highlights:
Milton on how the AGMC ended up at the Cathedral:
“It’s a really amazing story that 25 years ago, the director at the time, David Pocket, went to the cathedral and asked if the Gay Men’s Chorus could perform there. And they said yes, but then some of the members at the cathedral at the time, weren’t very happy with it and went to the leadership and said if you let the Gay Men’s chorus perform here we’re going to leave. And the cathedral said well, okay, you can leave. And for a large religious institution in the south, especially such a public religious institution in the south, like the Cathedral of St. Philip to do that, in the mid 90s is a really big deal…to stand up for the LGBTQ community in such a public way was a huge deal for for us and and for the entire LGBTQ community. ”
On the story behind “Recycle the Fruitcake”:
“I can tell you I’ve never had a funnier time performing anything in my entire life. Recycle the Fruitcake is a silly song telling a story about a Grandma that just keeps bringing the same fruitcake out every year, even though nobody eats it. And then she ships it all around the world. But we did it with a bunch of costumes and dancing. And it was it’s just so funny. I recall standing there conducting and just not being able to look at the guys in costume because just their faces were so hilarious. “
