Two of our community's now venerable choruses have announced exciting concerts, in Chelsea, in honor of the LGBT Pride season.

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus (NYCGMC), under Music Director Charles Beale, takes over Fashion Institute of Technology's Haft Auditorium, at 27th Street and Seventh Avenue, for "Vibrate!" on June 4 and 5 at 8 pm. Contemporary compositions are the focus and featured are new South African freedom songs, the American premiere of music from Latvia by Emils Darzins, selections by Rufus Wainwright and Gwen Stefani, and works commissioned from Our Lady J and Vermont-based Gwyneth Walker. Our Lady J and NYCGMC's Youth Pride Chorus make guest appearances.

For tickets, at $63, 48 and 38, go to the chorus' website, www.nycgmc.org, or Big Apple Performing Arts' web site, www.bapany.com.

For Pride month, NYCGMC's pops ensemble, Uptown Express, led by James Followell, offers "Walk Like a Man," also the title of quintet's new CD, at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, on June 19 and 26 at 7:30 pm. The cover charge is $25 and there is a two-drink minimum. The CD will be on sale at the show for the discounted price of $12.

With LGBT marriage such a hot, current issue, lesbian and gay chorus Stonewall Chorale's Pride concert is called "My Big, Fat Gay Wedding: Stonewall Celebrates Love & Marriage," on June 14 at 8 pm, at the Church of the Holy Apostle, 296 Ninth Avenue at 28th Street. Guided by Artistic Director Cynthia Powell, Stonewall presents the world premiere of Gerald Busby's "love notes," settings, Busby has told Q on Stage, "of daily handwritten notes that Gertude [Stein] and Alice [Toklas] exchanged ... They're mostly baby talk and make amusing texts for choral pieces," Gerald assures us. Actresses Lola Pashalinsky and Linda Chapman make guest appearances as Gertrude and Alice.

Other repertory set for "Wedding" includes the Bridal Chorus from Act Three of Richard Wagner's "Lohengrin;" "Somewhere," from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story," arranged by Edgerton; Daniel Pinkham's "Wedding Cantata;" René Clausen's "Set Me As A Seal;" and Charles Villiers Stanford's "Beati Quorum Via."

Tickets, at $20, may be purchased through the chorale's website, www.stonewallchorale.org. Tickets at the door will go for $25.

Happy Pride!
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