25 March 27th-april 2nd, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Sing Out A conversation with the new artistic director of the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus. BY ROYAL YOUNG A t a time when the queer community is under direct attack from the current political administration, the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus remains a bastion of inclusivity and creative joy. Founded in 1991, Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus has uplifted queer voices for over 30 years. Through fully staged perfor- mances that include costuming, video productions, dance and of course song, the chorus brings attention to issues in the queer community such as discrimination, suicide prevention, conversion therapy and health care. The chorus’s new Artistic Director, Antonio Lozano, brings over 20 years of experience as a Tempe public school teacher to his role. Passionate and dedi- cated, Lozano came on board in July and is leading the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus into an era of even more inclusivity, welcoming trans men and nonbinary folks at a time when they are being turned away from many public spaces. Producing everything from family- friendly Christmas shows to all-out drag performances that cover showtunes and pop medleys, the group aims provide a fun, safe and enjoyable experience for all, while still staying true to their queer identity. Phoenix New Times recently spoke with Lozano about how he came to be artistic director, how music can break down barriers, tackling heavy themes through song, being unapologetically inclusive, what straight allies can learn from queer creativity and remaining a source of inspiration in challenging times. Phoenix New Times: Let’s start with the history of the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus and when you came into the picture. Antonio Lozano: The way I got into ties with the Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus was through mutual friends who sang in the chorus. I’ve been a public school educator in Arizona for 20 years. I teach in Title 1 school districts, so my friends were like, “Hey, the artistic director is thinking about leaving. You should apply.” They had been trying to get me to sing in the chorus, but the time commitment wasn’t feasible. I started at a new school where I had assis- tants, so I thought maybe it could work and I applied. They went through a national search. I went through a whole audition process. You had to submit recordings of you conducting ensembles, go in for an in-person audition. They narrowed it down to the top three, and I got the job. Do you feel like your educational experi- ence is helpful in your new role? Being a public educator and teaching in the schools that I have taught in really helps me. We have seniors in the chorus who are not trained musicians; they just want to sing. Having that experience helps me educate them and get them to a point where they’re successful in the chorus and they don’t want to leave. I’m very much a methodical teacher and instructor, so the way I go through it, is we break it into chunks and learn one at a time, and by the end of rehearsal, the next thing they know, they have two songs learned. That sounds very empowering. I do it simple, easy and fun. That creates buy-in and the members want to do even more; they are hungry to be good. They want to be one of the best choruses in the country, and they can be. There is so much talent here in Arizona. The chorus tackles some pretty intense issues, like bullying, suicide prevention and HIV. How do you explore these issues through music and bring some beauty to them? The way we approach it is what The Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus performs for all sorts of audiences. (Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus) >> p 26 ▼ Arts & Culture
