The Johannesburg Queer Chorus is a ‘safe space of pure joy’

The battle for human rights is hard. Last weekend a gunman in the US killed five people in an LGBTQ nightclub, and recent efforts by some European teams playing in the World Cup to show their support for the community in Qatar — where same-sex relationships are criminalised — were thwarted when Fifa threatened to sanction any player who wore the “OneLove” rainbow armband.

Injustices persist the world over but if there’s one hopeful glimmer, it’s that we get to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community in South Africa — sometimes in glorious song.

The Johannesburg Queer Chorus is a 54-member strong ensemble for the LGBTQ community and its friends — meaning anybody who sees themself as an ally is welcome to join.

While studying in the US, Thomas Coggin joined the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus and found inspiration to start something similar in South Africa when he returned. With Guy Trangos and Ruth Coggin, the trio started the JQC in March 2020.

They held auditions and had their first practice before the Covid lockdown hit, then practised where they could (even having special masks made) throughout the pandemic. They were finally able to hold their first concert in February.

“I just love the energy that comes from this group of people,” says Ruth Coggin, the conductor. “We’re all amateur singers — very few of us actually read music.” 

Vice-chair Darren Meltz describes the choir as a safe space for its members. “We all love and support each other; it’s about the music but more so about the community we’ve built.”

“We wanted to include as many identities as possible which is why we came up with the name Johannesburg Queer Chorus,” says Coggin, adding there aren’t many queer choirs globally: they know of one in Iceland and one in Beijing. “We’ve seen videos of the queer chorus in Beijing. Some singers sing with masks over their faces because they’re too scared to be identified.”

Despite being in an infant stage, the choir has its sights on the Various Voices Choral Festival in Bologna in June next year for which they’ve been invited as special guests.

If they are able to raise the funds to attend — a goal they’re working towards tirelessly through their 30/60/300 campaign — they’ll be one of about 108 groups to attend, and the only choir from Africa.

The choir sings mostly a modern repertoire with a mix of pop songs. And they try to sing in a variety of languages.

“Many members have come to auditions and have said: ‘I haven’t sung for 10 years since I was at varsity or for 15 years since I was at school.’ So there’s plenty of choral tradition but it seems to stop after tertiary education, and I don’t understand why. I wish more people would start adult choirs — we need them.”

The JQC will have one more performance this year and will hold another round of auditions at the beginning of next year for prospective members.

For their upcoming festive performance, Starry Sky, they’ve prepared some Christmas carols, some usual numbers — even a song about Hanukkah. It’s a performance, Meltz says, that promises to bring pure joy.

• The JQC will be performing at the St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Parkview on December 4 at 5.30pm. For tickets, to donate to their fundraising initiative or to find out more about the JQC, visit jqc.org.za.