The West Coast Singers LGBTQ+ Chorus of Los Angeles is excited to announce our annual spring concert!
This year, we proudly present the West Coast premiere of Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray, an American dramatic cantata commissioned by GALA Choruses. This powerful, multi-movement work illuminates the life and legacy of Pauli Murray—a Black civil rights activist, legal scholar, and trailblazing figure whose writings helped shape landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Later in life, Murray became the first African American woman ordained as an Episcopal priest. Join us as we lift our voices in tribute to her enduring impact.
STORY:
At a time when the rights and histories of queer and trans people are under attack, we make a clear and vital statement: our lives and our stories matter. In that spirit, our spring concert centers on the remarkable story of Pauli Murray—a brilliant legal mind whose work laid the foundation for many of the civil rights and gender equality advancements we benefit from today. Her contributions continue to resonate for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community alike.
Only in recent years has Murray begun to receive the recognition she so deeply deserves:
- The 2021 release of the acclaimed documentary My Name Is Pauli Murray
- The 2024 opening of The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in her childhood home in Durham, North Carolina (which faced federal defunding in 2025)
- Her inclusion in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program in 2024
Now, West Coast Singers joins these efforts, shining a spotlight on this complex and extraordinary life through a 10-movement cantata commissioned by GALA Choruses, an international LGBTQ+ choral association.
Murray’s personal identity is also receiving greater understanding in today’s more inclusive climate. Born in 1910, she lived in a time with few opportunities or language to explore gender and sexuality openly. While she used she/her pronouns and identified as a lesbian, Murray often expressed discomfort with being perceived as female, and her private writings suggest she saw herself as male or nonbinary. If alive today, she might have identified as transgender. As we sing her story, we honor the fullness of who Pauli Murray was—and affirm the voices and lives of all those who live beyond the binary.
We can’t wait to see you at the concert! To buy tickets, simply click the image above or this link.
Saturday, May 31, 7pm (doors open 6:30 pm for general admission)
**VIP Experience: Enjoy exclusive early access starting at 5:00pm, featuring hors d’oeuvres and drinks (including beer and wine). Meet and mingle with chorus members, and select your preferred seats before general admission begins.
West Coast Singers LGBTQ+ Chorus of Los Angeles is a vibrant and inclusive community chorus now in our 41st year. We welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions who have a passion for singing and enjoy the camaraderie of a community chorus. Dedicated to musical excellence, we delight audiences while fostering understanding, healing and cooperation across Los Angeles.
Our mission: To provide quality musicianship, engaging choral performances and an inclusive environment that unites LGBTQ+ singers and their allies to celebrate diversity, foster equity and build a community of acceptance.
Our vision: Diverse voices uniting to cultivate positive change.
