Everyone in Whitney Flores’ life had always told her not to sing. She loved singing, but critical comments from adults throughout her childhood left her mortified at the idea of singing in front of people. At the encouragement of a few friends, including Mercedes Arciniega, director of Anchorage’s Sing Out! choir, Flores nervously auditioned anyway and was accepted.
As a member of the choir, she found her optimal vocal range, some confidence, a new love of singing, and the chance to grow as a singer.
“That’s what this [choir] is all about,” Arciniega said. “[It] gives folks a place of joy when they’ve been put in a box or simply told ‘no.’ It is a welcoming, inclusive, expressive space where everyone belongs.”
Sing Out!, a program of Identity Inc., is Anchorage’s community choir for members and friends of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Arciniega joined as director in February of this year.
“My wife and a few friends shared with me that Identity was looking for a new [choir] director and I jumped at the opportunity,” Arciniega said. “I thought, ‘How special would it be to not only conduct a vocal ensemble in my hometown, but also a group that celebrates LGBTQ+ talent and artistry?’”
Arciniega, who also heads Anchorage production company Arciniega Street Productions with her wife Kendra, was born and raised in Anchorage. As part of a musical family, Arciniega was exposed to music performance from a young age – at age six she sang with her dad’s band at Anchorage’s original Rumrunners. In the Dimond High School choir, she began to take music more seriously and eventually went on to major in Music Education at the University of Puget Sound.
As director of Sing Out!, Arciniega rejects the typical gendering and vocal range assumptions familiar to a traditional choral setting. This creates a unique space where singers are free to explore their voices, their ranges, and their singing in an inclusive, mindful musical space.
“Mercedes provides such a welcoming and loving environment for all voice types, whatever your singing ability is, wherever you’re at, she’s able to meet you and she’s a fantastic coach,” said Flores.
The community choral ensemble has around 20 active members spanning from youth to elders. It provides an artistic platform for members and friends of Anchorage’s LGBTQ+ community to share their voice through the art of choral music while connecting to the world at large through “literal and metaphoric harmony.” As an open community choir for all ages and experience levels, individuals are free to join on a rolling basis. Sing Out! always welcomes new members.
“I see this as a way to give back to my community and foster a space for queer folk and allies to express themselves, feel safe, and make music together,” said Arciniega. “I’m so grateful that I get to contribute to our community this way. I wish we had an all-ages queer vocal group like this when I was growing up in Anchorage.”
Sing Out! will present its Fall Showcase on Dec.12 at 7 p.m. at the Recital Hall in UAA’s Fine Arts Building. The choir will feature songs from a variety of genres and artists, including Lady Gaga, Queen, Bonnie Raitt, Judy Garland, “Frozen II,” “The Muppet Movie,” and “In The Heights.”
The show is all ages and will have a reception afterwards in the lobby, courtesy of Cafecito Bonito. Tickets are available for purchase online.
This article was published in partnership with Arts Anchorage.
Emily is an Anchorage-based graphic designer, writer and musician. She is the founder of Arts Anchorage.