Following 10 seasons as Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC), Dr. Tim Seelig will retire at the conclusion of SFGMC’s Season 44 in 2022, Executive Director Chris Verdugo and Board Chair Glenn DeSandre recently announced.
“As I look back over the last decade with the chorus, the milestones are humbling,” said Seelig, who is also a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. “The chorus has been able to honor its commitment to music and mission. The music, new and old, has been glorious. The mission continues to stand as a beacon guiding this chorus through what is now 43 years. For me, the successes of these 10 seasons with SFGMC are not counted in numbers of singers or dollars, but in the lives and hearts moved by the music we have made together.”
“San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will forever be indebted to Tim for his many years of service and contributions to the chorus and our community,” said Verdugo. “During his tenure, the organization has seen an overwhelming increase in chorus members—expanding to over 300 singers—and he’s created an artistic product to rival some of the best men’s choral ensembles in the country. He helped elevate SFGMC to the global stage while also transforming the chorus into a worldwide leader in the LGBTQ+ choral movement. He’s been a partner, friend and leader.”
“Anyone who has ever attended one of our concerts will agree that Tim is an incredible artistic visionary who has created a men’s chorus that is among the best in the world,” adds DeSandre. “Arguably though, his biggest legacy are the thousands of singers and audience members who have been galvanized to take up the mantle of social justice by Tim’s artistry, musical commissions, and inspirational words. More than just a conductor he is a mentor, coach, father, brother, and friend to all of us and he will be greatly missed.”
Considered one of the nation’s most prolific choral directors, Seelig has had an accomplished 10 seasons at SFGMC marked by several distinguished achievements, including:
Throughout his tenure, Seelig forged intimate and important working collaborations with distinguished composers and musicians that have resulted in six major commissioned pieces of works. They include Testimony by Stephen Schwartz; I Am Harvey Milk by Andrew Lippa; Tyler’s Suite, featuring the work of nine celebrated composers including Jake Heggie, Ann Hampton Callaway, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, and more; #twitterlieder by James Eakin; Unbreakable by Andrew Lippa; @queerz by Julian Hornik; and the upcoming Songs of the Phoenix. Many of these works have since been performed by other choral ensembles around the world.
Known for his enthusiasm and humor, Seelig has secured his place as an in-demand guest conductor and teacher across the U.S. and the globe. For 25 years, Seelig conducted annually at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Other guest conducting highlights include conducting 700+ singers plus orchestra in I Am Harvey Milk in Denver; conducting the Guinness Book of World Record’s Longest Choral Concert; conducting the Canadian premiere of Tyler’s Suite in Ottawa; and being the first openly gay man to conduct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Prior to joining SFGMC, Seelig was Artistic Director and Conductor of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale for 20 years, where he is currently Conductor Emeritus, and he served on the faculty at Southern Methodist University for 14 years. Seelig’s early training was as a singer. He made his European operatic debut at the Staatsoper in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He appeared as soloist in world premieres of composers including John Corigliano, Conrad Susa, and Peter Schikele.
Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has authored numerous books and DVDs on choral technique including best-sellers The Perfect Blend and The Perfect Rehearsal, as well as The Perfect Choral Workbook, Quick Choral Fixes, and The Music Within. In 2020, Seelig released his memoir, Tale of Two Tims: Big Ol’ Baptist, Big Ol’ Gay.
In 2022, Dr. Seelig will have been conducting LGBTQ+ choruses for 35 years.
A committee led by Paul Saccone and Maren Amdal will formally launch the search for SFGMC’s next Artistic Director on August 1.
Published on July 15, 2021
Recent Comments