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What is Bayou City Performing Arts?
Bayou City Performing Arts (BCPA) was founded as the Montrose Singers, Inc. in November of 1979. Led by founding director Andy Mills, the Houston based men's chorus met with early successes marked by lavish productions at the Tower Theatre, performing with as many as 80 singing members. The BCPA family of choruses has expanded to include Gay Men's Chorus of Houston (GMCH), Bayou City Women's Chorus (BCWC), Bayou City Chorale (BCC), and Bayou Rhythms. 2009/2010 marks BCPA's 31st anniversary of continuous performances.
BCPA has been termed "the best face of diversity in Houston," BCPA, widely respected for community leadership in inclusion and diversity, continues to provide opportunities for a wide range of Houstonians, fulfilling its mission of excellence in music - coupled with unity and pride. Recent successes of the Bayou City Performing Arts have been widely credited to James Knapp, who served as artistic director from 2001 to 2009. Under his exceptional leadership, the men's chorus has grown to more than 100 members. James is also the founding director of the 50 voice Bayou City Women's Chorus, and the Bayou City Chorale mixed chorus.
Linus Lerner, former artistic director of the Reveille Men's Chorus in Tuscon, Arizona, now stands poised to take BCPA soaring into its fourth decade of musical excellence and artful storytelling. Dr. Lerner, a native of Brazil, has conducted choruses, orchestras, and operas in the US as well as Bulgaria, the Czech Rebublic, Spain and Mexico.
Notable Venues
- Jones Hall
- Hobby Center for the Performing Arts' Zilkha Hall
- Rice University's Stude Hall
- Wortham Center's Cullen Theatre
- Alley Theatre
- 1894 Grand Opera House of Galveston
- International Festival Institute, Round Top, TX
National/International Performances
- Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
- Tedd Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis
- Place des Arts - Willifred-Peltier Concert Hall, Montreal
- Gay Games and Cultural Festival, Vancouver, 1992
- GALA Chorus Convention, Denver, 1992
- GALA Chorus Convention, Tampa Bay, 1996
- Second Appearance with Houston Symphony Orchestra, 1998
- GALA Chorus Convention, San Jose, 2000
- GALA Chorus Convention, Montreal, 2004
- GALA Chorus Convention, Miami, 2008
Awards
- The State of Texas Governor's Distinguished Community Choir Award, April 2000
- Outstanding Non-Profit Ally, Houston Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, 2002
- Proclamation of "Gay Men's Chorus of Houston Day," by Mayor Bill White, June 2004
- Certificate of Congressional Recognition by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, March 2005
- Voted "Best Chorus" by readers of the Houston Press, October 2006
- Proclamation of "Bayou City Performing Arts, Sing for the Cure Day", by Mayor Bill White, October 2007
- Judy Garland "Best Performance", Pride Houston (Pride Parade float), June 2009
- Voted "Best Community Organization" Runner Up by readers of OutSmart Magazine, October 2009
Discography
- Grateful | GMCH, 2003
- Red, Hot, and Cole! | GMCH, 2005
- Mosaic | GMCH, 2005
- A New Season - Live | GMCH, BCWC, BCC, 2006
- Uncommon Reflections | BCWC, 2007
- Topsy Turvy | GMCH, BCWC, BCC, Bayou Rhythm, VocalEase, 2009
- Winterlight | BCWC, 2009
Our Mission
We sing to transform hearts and minds. Using the transformative power of choral musical excellence, we sing to: empower and inspire critical thinking about social justice issues through individual and community healing; entertain and enlighten our audience and bring a smile to the human spirit; demonstrate to young people the power and importance of human voices raised together in song; and nurture our membership through fun and fellowship.
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