Following a nationwide search, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) has selected Joseph P. Nadeau as the new artistic director and conductor.
Hailing from Kansas City, where Nadeau was the artistic director of the Heartland Men’s Chorus since 1998, he begins working with GMCLA on Aug. 1.
“I’m thrilled and honored to join the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles as their new artistic director,” said Nadeau. “I look forward to working with the talented 200-member chorus, and in carrying on GMCLA’s mission to be a voice of change within the LA community and across the nation.”
Nadeau will premiere with GMCLA at the first concert of its 35th season, “Holiday Spectacular: Festival of Carols,” which will open in December.
Nadeau grew up in Bangor, Maine, and in 1993 graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor of music degree in music education. That same year, he began teaching music in Denver, Colo. and also joined the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus (DGMC) where he served as interim artistic director for DGMC until he was hired by Heartland Men’s Chorus (HMC) in Kansas City in 1998.
During his 15 years as artistic director and conductor of HMC, Joe led the chorus in four international GALA festivals, performances (by invitation) at national Chorus America and American Choral Director’s (ACDA) conferences, a European tour and multiple collaborative performances with other GALA Choruses. Nadeau has commissioned over 100 new works and arrangements, produced eight commercial CDs and two DVDs and has performed with HMC for over 5,000 elementary, middle and high school students in special outreach concerts.
“We are elated to welcome Joe Nadeau into the GMCLA family,” said Chris Verdugo, executive director of GMCLA. “Joe has proven himself to be both risk-taking and visionary in his artistic programming, a respected educator and a world-class conductor.”
For more information about the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), or to become a subscriber for the upcoming 35th season, visit www.gmcla.org.
