San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus to Open 37th Season with Annual CRESCENDO Event, 9/28

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) announced Crescendo, the annual season preview event that kicks-off the 37th season, on Sunday, September 28, 2014, from 12 - 3 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel (757 Market Street, San Francisco). The Sunday brunch includes a preview of selections from the upcoming season, which will feature concerts that provide a musical journey that is equal parts festive, fearless and fabulous! With proceeds benefiting SFGMC, Crescendo includes a silent and live auction and an awards ceremony that will pay tribute to Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, GRAMMY winner Leslie Ann Jones and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Tickets for Crescendo range in price from $150 to $2,500 and are available now by visiting www.SFGMC.org/crescendo.

"We look forward to celebrating the power of music by bringing together individuals and organizations who have found a community of acceptance through song," said Justin Taylor, SFGMC Board Chairman. "Crescendo raises crucial funds for SFGMC, sustaining our innovative repertoire for the year. We look forward to an afternoon filled with inspiration, as we share the values of our mission to create extraordinary musical experiences that inspire community, activism, and compassion."

At Crescendo, SFGMC will present the 2014 Champion Awards to honor Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz and Grammy Award winner Leslie Ann Jones for their contributions to the LGBT community with "Testimony." Written by Schwartz, sung by SFGMC and mastered by Jones at Skywalker Sound, "Testimony" was a part of the "It Gets Better Project." Schwartz was also the creative force behind SFGMC's world premiere of "Tyler's Suite" in March 2014. The multi-movement work penned by top American composers paid tribute to the life of Tyler Clementi and created a story of inclusion, dignity and acceptance for youth and their families. The recording was then mastered by Jones for inclusion on SFGMC's recent release "Illuminate: Live at 35." As Director of Music Recording and Scoring at Skywalker Sound, Jones has also worked with SFGMC on their recording of "I Am Harvey Milk" which won a 2014 Independent Music Award in the Soundtrack/Cast Recording Album category.

SFGMC will award the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for their dedication to activities in education, the environment, global development and population, performing arts, and philanthropy. The Hewlett Foundation makes grants to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been a long-time partner of SFGMC. In 2014, they renewed a three-year funding commitment to the Chorus to assist with annual operating expenses and long-range financial planning.

Previous Champion awardees include Tyler Clementi Foundation (2013), Dan Savage (2012) and Stuart Milk (2011) for the Human Rights Champion; KQED (2013), Joe Jervis from Joe.My.God (2012) and Bay Area Reporter (2011) for the Media Champion; and the Bob Ross Foundation (2013), Barefoot Wine & Bubbly (2012) and Diageo Americas (2011) for the Institutional Champion.

For more information about Crescendo please visit www.SFGMC.org/crescendo.