Desert Voices live in Studio 2A on Locals Only
Full session recording on June 29, 2026
Connect with the artist: Desert Voices
Performing: Dr. James Higgs (Conductor, Artistic Director), Dr. Kyungsung Choi (Keyboard), Meg Dever-Hansen (Vocalist), Bree Sheaffer (Vocalist), Billie Braimah (Vocalist, Trumpet), Amy Ellsworth (Vocalist), Julie Bogen (Vocalist), Wendy Dever (Vocalist), Gina Snyder (Vocalist), Mark Marchese (Vocalist), Callen Aster (Vocalist), Nicole Bardabelias (Vocalist), Jon Reinhardt (Vocalist), Ted Houldsworth (Vocalist), Andrew Breesman (Vocalist), Ron Wassell, (Vocalist, Chorus Manager)
Host: Serpe
Audio: Duncan Hudson, Walter Harrington
Video: Sean Dana, David Ross
Listen to the live performance + interview here!
About Desert Voices Chorus:
Founded in 1988, Desert Voices is Arizona’s longest running LGBTQIA+ choir. We belong to the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (or GALA), which was founded in the early 1980s to bring together gay men’s choirs, lesbian women’s choirs, and LGBTQ+ mixed choirs. While GALA choruses are joyful expressions of pride, they were often formed as a response to tragedy. Many choirs, including Desert Voices, were established in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which devastated LGBTQ communities during the 80s and 90s. These choirs transformed pain and joy into beautiful music. In doing so, they validated and celebrated communities that were so often denied dignity.
Desert Voices honors this history in our mission statement, “Fostering Community Through Song”. “We are a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Arizona beautiful music and to forging a positive and resolute LGBTQIA presence in the community. Our unique chorus
welcomes all voices to attend our rehearsal and our performances, regardless of age, race, creed, sexuality, or gender identity and expression…. Our purpose is to give a voice to those whose songs go unheard.”
The songs we bring to you are from our recent “Love Out Loud” performance at the beautiful Fox Tucson Theatre. We celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people who came before us, who carved out spaces to express themselves and live authentically even when the world was hostile to them. We celebrate all the ways that we as LGBTQ people and our allies create opportunities to Love Out Loud, whether for ourselves, with our friends and families, or in our communities. Most of all, we celebrate how choosing to Love Out Loud can light the way for others to do the same.
View the live video stream here!
Inside Studio 2A: Photos from Locals Only live performance and interview
