Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Vocal Minority Music Society (VMS) formed ca. 1983, was, according to member Herbert Tay, the first mixed gay choir in Canada, and the second gay choir to be formed, following the Vancouver Men’s Chorus. The choir’s mandate was to provide a cultural organization to bring together singers, musicians, and interested individuals, both gay and gay-supportive. Their printed goals state they wanted to foster interaction between lesbian women and gay men, as well as between the gay community and the rest of society. The choir met weekly, and new members were on a one-month trial period. The choir was particularly active from 1983 through 1985, taking part in Canadian Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) choruses and performances.
However, by 1986 their numbers were dwindling and with interest waning, the Board of Directors for the Vocal Minority Music Society announced its dissolution in May 1987. In 1993, a new LGBQT choir, Edmonton Vocal Minority (EVM), was started by David Hicks who was active at that time with the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton. The name of the newly-reestablished choir was a nod to its predecessor, and EVM continues to perform in several self-produced concerts each year, and actively participates in the Canadian GALA choruses Festivals. The choir remains committed “to playing a vital role in preserving and celebrating the rich culture and history of the Queer community, while at the same time championing equality and embracing the diversity of all people regardless of sexual orientation”. (EVM webpage: http://www.evmchoir.com)