Diverse Harmony: the nation’s first queer-straight alliance youth chorus
Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first queer-straight alliance youth chorus. Based in Seattle, Washington, our chorus presents music that opens the hearts and minds of communities and provides a safe environment for youth of diverse backgrounds to share their love of music and be accepted for who they are.
DONATE Open Letter to the Community (PDF download)July 4, 2020
Summer 2020 Web Update (PDF download)August 9, 2020
Friends of Diverse Harmony,
These past several months of dealing with Covid-19 have been a challenge to all of us, and the youth of Diverse Harmony have been no exception. When activity came to a halt in March, our choir was putting the final touches on a concert that was scheduled for presentation on March 21st. In addition to that concert preparation, the group was also getting ready for a July trip to Minneapolis for the GALA Festival which takes place every four years. Of course, all of these plans had to be cancelled with many other activities we all experienced…
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Our Story
Diverse Harmony was founded in Seattle in 2002 as the nation’s first gay-straight alliance youth chorus. Over eighteen years we have seen the choir grow to nearly 60 members, and have brought performances to communities throughout Seattle in our regular two-concert season. The chorus has also performed tours to Denver, Chicago, Montreal, Miami, and Portland — with an upcoming trip to Minneapolis in July 2021.
Diverse Harmony is a member of GALA Choruses (the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) and is considered a leading youth chorus among its ranks due to our longevity and large membership.
In tandem with our successful performances, Diverse Harmony serves as a safe space for our singers: youth age 13 to 22 who identify as queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, asexual, or allied, among many others. Weekly rehearsals have become a home base for many of our youth where they can feel respected and accepted, and have fun making music together.
Since our founding, we have realized that the term gay-straight alliance does not encompass our entire chorus family. As of 2014, we are fully supporting our community by identifying as a queer-straight alliance youth chorus.
Queer is used as an umbrella term that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, asexual, queer, questioning, and other individuals that may not identify with other titles.
No tuition or membership fee is required of singers, and we accept all levels of musical ability.
Our Mission
• Our vision is a world in which differences are celebrated.
• Our mission is to create a safe, affirming environment where each person is accepted for who they are.
• Our common bond is the love of music and performance arts.
• We use our passion and the power of music to inspire all to celebrate the differences in our homes, communities and the world.
We believe that everyone should be loved for who they are and represented with the appropriate language and queer is the appropriate term for our Diverse Harmony family. For more information on the term queer, please visit PFLAG.
Join us. Donate. Participate.
The Diverse Harmony
Choir
DH performs songs from a wide variety of genres — from contemporary pop to classical to Broadway — through which our members create themed shows or even stage musicals that we perform at the end of each season. Whether they came for the music, the friends, the community, or the snacks, DH choristers often leave their first rehearsal feeling like they have a new musical family to welcome them every Tuesday night.
JOIN USThe Diverse Harmony Ensemble
Spectrum
We are proud to have added a young adult ensemble to the Diverse Harmony family in 2016. Spectrum began as a 13 member group, having made a year-long commitment to perform and promote Diverse Harmony. Spectrum has evolved into a young adult ensemble welcoming new and alumni members ages 19-29 who are dedicated to musical excellence, recruitment, and mentorship on behalf of the Diverse Harmony youth chorus.
Join UsBoard of Directors
Meet the Diverse Harmony Board and Staff
Bob Sittig
President
Bob Sittig is the retired administrator of Seattle First Baptist Church. As a result of his association with the church, he has watched…
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Steve Walker
Vice President
Steve Walker is the Vice President of Diverse Harmony. He was formerly the Executive Director of the National Gay Pilots Association and…
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Heidi Toppel
Business Manager
Heidi comes to Diverse Harmony as a Companis volunteer. She is a retired CPA and tax attorney. She serves on the boards of Naral Pro-Choice, WA…
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Bryant Vehrs
Treasurer
Bryant attended the MA Psychology program at the College of William and Mary followed by the Clinical Psychology PhD program…
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Daneil Newcomb
Board and Choir Member
Daneil is a social services provider for youth and young adults in the Seattle Area. Their work focuses on empowering young people…
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Devin Mack
Chorus Manager
Having joined as a singer in 2012, Devin is a long-standing DH alumnus who signed on as the chorus manager in 2016. They affectionately refer…
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J. Allen Leslie
Artistic Director
Allen has been teaching Music in the Shoreline School District for twenty-four years, led choirs as a Music Director, and worked for various…
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Kate Janzen
Accompanist
Kate Janzen, has been working in the field of music since the age of 17, when her first job was accompanying a local community choir…
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Upcoming Shows
Check back soon, as more performances will be added!
Pictured above – Diverse Harmony travelled to Portland in 2013 to celebrate Pride and do outreach. We assisted in the creation of Portland’s own queer youth chorus, which is called Bridging Voices.
Request a PerformancePostponed – TBD
Concert at Seattle First Baptist Church
June Concert
Time and loaction TBA
Postponed
GALA! Minneapolis. MN
Friends of Diverse Harmony
Seattle First Baptist Church
SFBC, a Welcoming and Affirming American Baptist Church, has been the home of Diverse Harmony from its inception. The choir utilizes the church’s wonderful facilities for weekly practices and performances. Members of the church are avid artistic and financial supporters of Diverse Harmony.
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Companis
Companis fosters skilled volunteer service by placing dedicated professionals with nonprofit agencies that need staffing assistance. Companis placed Heidi our Business Manager and Judith our Webmaster with us. Companis staff and volunteers are avid artistic and financial supporters of Diverse Harmony.
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ArtsFund
ArtsFund strengthens the community by supporting the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grant making. The Seattle-based nonprofit has been building community through the arts for over 50 years and is one of the nation’s leading United Arts Funds. Diverse Harmony is a grateful recipient of a grant from the ArtsFund’s COVID-19 Arts Emergency Relief Fund.
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Say Hello
There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t met yet.