Contact:
Josh Wise, Executive Director
651-298-1954, executivedirector@onevoicemn.org

Who: One Voice Mixed Chorus: Minnesota’s very own – and North America’s largest – LGBTQ and straight allies community chorus.

What: Queer Thunder, an exciting, high-energy concert, in collaboration with taiko drummers from Mu Daiko, that honors of the struggle for LGBTQ rights around the world. Be sure to arrive early for a hands-on taiko drumming demonstration before each concert!

Where: Hopkins High School Auditorium, 2400 Lindbergh Dr, Hopkins 55305

When: Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, April 17 at 3:00 PM.

Tickets: Advance tickets are $20-$30, and can be purchased online at www.onevoicemn.org or by calling 651-298-1954. Advance sales end Friday, April 15. However, tickets will be available at the door for an extra $5. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

There’s a storm brewing at One Voice and it’s time to unleash the power of Queer Thunder! In 2006, One Voice Mixed Chorus was the first chorus ever to take traditional choral music and combine it with the exciting Japanese art of taiko drumming. Ten years later, we’re doing it again – only bigger, bolder and even louder! Queer Thunder blows the top off your conventional choral concert, with a one-of-a-kind, cutting-edge show that combines the vocal excellence of One Voice with the heart-pounding drama and excitement of taiko drumming from Mu Daiko. With this concert, we honor the stories of LGBTQ trailblazers from across the globe, men and women who are fighting for the basic human rights of queer people in places where their voices have gone unheard for too long. We’re also putting music by female composers front and center. Queer Thunder features four commissions by female Minnesota composers, including the world premieres of Our Phoenix and When Thunder Comes by St. Olaf grad, Mari Esabel Valverde. We’ll also be performing commissions by taiko drummer and former One Voice singer, Heewon Lee, and current One Voice soprano, Catherine Dalton. Lastly, if all that’s not enough, Queer Thunder also includes a virtual appearance by the Beijing Queer Chorus - China’s first LGBTQ choir!

Since 1988, One Voice Mixed Chorus has been a dedicated and passionate advocate for social justice and change. It’s that passion and excitement that inspires us to make each One Voice concert something unique and innovative that turns traditional chorus music on its head and moves the conversation about justice and equality forward. Queer Thunder is no different, just louder. By blending our signature stirring vocals and rich, heartfelt storytelling with the bewitching bombast of taiko - a combination that’s never been done by anyone else - we’re rattling the cages of all the stodgy, establishment thinkers, and turning attention forward to a future of peace, harmony and justice for all. We hope you will join us.

Be sure to arrive 30 minutes early for a hands-on taiko drumming demonstration before each show! You’ll learn the ABCs of taiko directly from the players themselves, followed by a chance to make your own thunder on one of their massive drums! To find out more about the show and to get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of how we’re preparing, please visit onevoicemn.org/performances/calendar-events/queer-thunder/.

To learn more about One Voice, visit our website at http://www.onevoicemn.org and to buy tickets to any of our events, please visit http://www.onevoicemn.org/performances/get-tickets/ or give us a call at 651-298-1954. Thank you so much for your continued support and we hope to see you all at Queer Thunder!

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Rocky Jones

Operations & Communications Coordinator

One Voice Mixed Chorus

732 Holly Avenue

Saint Paul, MN 55104

651.298.1954

operations@OneVoiceMN.org

www.OneVoiceMN.org