Music, Community, and Justice for All: Factors Influencing Participation in Gay Men’s Choruses

The diverse landscape of choral music includes a wide range of ensembles representing various community, cultural, and sociological perspectives. One may assume that the impetus for participation in choral music is strictly musical. However, while inherently musical, choral ensembles and their stated missions also reflect and influence the social interactions and core values of their participants (Bell, 2008; Latimer, 2008; Turino, 2008). The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence participation in gay men’s choruses. Participants (n = 201) included singing members of three gay men’s choruses located in the central United States. A questionnaire that included demographic information and a series of open-ended questions asking participants to offer their top three motivations for participating in a gay men’s chorus was developed for this study. Participants’ responses to open-ended questions were coded thematically (musical, community and social justice). Musical and community factors were found to most heavily influence involvement in the participating choruses. The mission statements of each of the participating ensembles were analyzed and found to align with factors influencing participation.