I had a really difficult time this week deciding what to write about. I knew that I could throw my heart, hands, and words into the discussion on the Orlando attack and the Brock Turner rape case. I will touch on my some of my feelings towards the Orlando shooting, but overall, I want to tell you about my weekend.
The weekend began when I left my suburb of Anderson and headed back to the red-brick garden of Miami University. It was a celebratory weekend for us Miamians, alumni weekend. As I am not yet an alumni, I would've have come to this event. However, the Men's Glee Club was celebrating together, a tradition of coming together every three year. I arrived on Thursday, a decently hot day, barely a comparison to Saturday, driven by Glee Club alumni and new friend Rob Shook. We veered through the tricks and turns of the detour to Oxford and arrived that afternoon. A quiet Thursday it was, as most of the festivities don't occur until Friday and Saturday. Friday rolled along smoothly as Rob and I awoke around 830am, he was up at 6, but knocked on my door at 830. I struggled with such an early time, but we made our way to Goggin Ice Center to man the LGBT alumni table and assist the Glee Club alumni table. Throughout the morning, I was able to connect with old friends like George Beverly and Lee Fisher and begin new friendships with past clabbers like Nick Pearson. After waiting patiently for some food from SDS, it was a very busy weekend for area restaurants, two of my best friends arrived, Michel Victoria and Alex French. We got them registered and booked it out, free to explore the Oxford we know and love.
Later that Friday, I attended a reception, hosted by pardoning President David Hodge and University Ambassador Valerie Hodge at their home, Lewis Place. They hosted the LGBT alumni association and other LGBT alums who came back for the weekend. I, of course ran into my fabulous and wonderful boss at the Office of Diversity Affairs, Shevonne Nelson, whose reaction to me being there was like a surprised kid at Christmas, completely unexpected. Rob, my new friend, is on the LGBT alumni board, so of course he was sipping a beer with the Hodges. President Hodge and Valerie Hodge shared beautiful words with the small crowd as they commended our community's strength and resilience and encouraged the group to keep pushing forward. Valerie Hodge in her fabulousness offered a pair of shoes to whoever would fit in them. As I was the only person small enough to even attempt to squeeze my feet in Valerie's 8.5s, I jumped at the opportunity. I worked those Minnie Mouse looking red pumps in the group picture and a few other photo opportunities, I felt a freedom to express myself and be funny in that situation, all with the utmost support from the whole crowd.
Rob and I exited the corresponding dinner with the LGBT alums to gather in Hall Auditorium for our first club rehearsal. It was jam-packed with clubbers, over 100 at that point, including close to 30 current members. I struggled through several of the Glee Club standards I had not had the privilege to previously sing and led on the ones I knew like the back of my hand. We were all learning together. It felt so amazing to sing again. To experience being in club again, even though its been about a month since the last concert. Getting to work with former club directors Clayton Parr and Ethan Sperry was amazing. They have such different personalities than Jeremy Jones, our current directors, and directing styles. It was a joy to learn from them and clubbers from past and present. We gathered uptown and at clubhouse, enjoying each others company, basking in the brotherhood and camaraderie that comes with being a Brother in Song and talked about the weekend ahead.
A bright early morning start greeted us on Saturday. A full plate of activities for club. We had rehearsal for several hours that morning , we had lunch with some amazing announcement about our fund-raising efforts, future endeavors and how amazingly supportive our alumni are. We, of course had some time to relax, including some quality gay mafia hang out time, complete with margaritas. We sang, ate, and drank our way through Miami Fest before gathering on the stage for our concert. We had over 180 glee club alumni on that stage, sharing harmonies, sharing memories, and joining together to bring the gift of music to a pack Hall Auditorium. The performance wasn't perfect, but it didn't have to be. It was fun, emotional, and completely overwhelming. If I had to pinpoint one memory that will stick with me, it will be the final verse and build up of the piece Ave Maria, a male choral standard by Franz Biebl. When we hit the last "Amen" chord, I was tearing up, thinking I was the only one, I looked around. Plenty of the over 180 men standing on that stage were as emotional as I was. It was one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.
The fun commenced after our concert as we partied, sang, and snacked on some seriously large pizzas. Joining clubbers of all ages in some of our favorites, and learning new tunes that other clubbers hold dear was so incredible. We are just a bunch of dudes who come together and sing. Our reunion proved that. That was not the last pitch we sang that weekend. We also sang the Miami University Fight Song and Alma Mater at the Farewell Brunch on Sunday. I am so grateful for that brunch because, like many, I woke up to the news of the tragedy. Michel and I talked about it on our way to Armstrong, crushed and confusion, barely able to comprehend what had happened to our brothers and sisters. Singing with our brothers that morning, having that moment of coming together, holding hands as we sang our Parting Blessing, gave me a safe moment in a morning so filled with pain and confusion. The Glee Club and the LGBT community at Miami has been so supportive to me. I cannot imagine my Miami experience or my life without them. I have received hate, other LGBT students that I know have received hate. As Shevonne always says, we are not the group to back down, we are a very vocal bunch. Based on what I've seen on social media and in personal conversations, we will not back down, we will not be afraid. In Glee Club we say, "Brothers, Sing On", to America and the world I say, "Everyone, Love On".
