UPDATE, 5/30: VIP Experience - SOLD OUT

Rebel With a Cause: Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray

At a time when the rights and histories of queer and trans people are under attack, we make a clear and vital statement: our lives and our stories matter. In that spirit, our spring concert centers on the remarkable story of Pauli Murray—a brilliant legal mind whose work laid the foundation for many of the civil rights and gender equality advancements we benefit from today. Her contributions continue to resonate for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community alike.

Only in recent years has Murray begun to receive the recognition she so deeply deserves:

The 2021 release of the acclaimed documentary My Name Is Pauli Murray
The 2024 opening of The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in her childhood home in Durham, North Carolina (which faced federal defunding in 2025)
Her inclusion in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program in 2024

Now, West Coast Singers joins these efforts, shining a spotlight on this complex and extraordinary life through a 10-movement cantata commissioned by GALA Choruses, an international LGBTQ+ choral association.

Murray’s personal identity is also receiving greater understanding in today’s more inclusive climate. Born in 1910, she lived in a time with few opportunities or language to explore gender and sexuality openly. While she used she/her pronouns and identified as a lesbian, Murray often expressed discomfort with being perceived as female, and her private writings suggest she saw herself as male or nonbinary. If alive today, she might have identified as transgender. As we sing her story, we honor the fullness of who Pauli Murray was—and affirm the voices and lives of all those who live beyond the binary.

We can’t wait to see you at the concert!

Saturday, May 31, 7pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
Following the performance, a reception with light refreshments will be held in Social Hall.
First Christian Church of North Hollywood, 4390 Colfax Avenue, North Hollywood, 91604

**VIP Experience: Enjoy exclusive early access starting at 5:00pm, featuring hors d'oeuvres and drinks (including beer and wine). Meet and mingle with chorus members, and select your preferred seats before general admission begins.

ABOUT US

West Coast Singers LGBTQ+ Chorus of Los Angeles is a vibrant and inclusive community chorus now in our 41st year. We welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions who have a passion for singing and enjoy the camaraderie of a community chorus. Dedicated to musical excellence, we delight audiences while fostering understanding, healing and cooperation across Los Angeles.

Our mission: To provide quality musicianship, engaging choral performances, and an inclusive environment that unites LGBTQ+ singers and their allies to celebrate diversity, foster equity, and build a community of acceptance.

Our vision: Diverse voices uniting to cultivate positive change.

Rebel With a Cause: Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray

The west coast premiere of an original cantata celebrating activist Pauli Murray