Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Timorell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Timorell, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I started TONEWALL queer a cappella, I had just turned 50.

Being on stage wasn’t a stranger to me. I was singing before I could read being raised in a church-going family of musicians. Later, I graduated with a Music Ed degree, then performed at Opryland theme park in Nashville, sang and danced on many cruise ships throughout my 20s. The rigors of performing as a job teaches you things: Collaboration, community, consistency, resilience, self-care, and how to push through–for people who’ve paid to see you–not to mention the obvious honing of musical skills that I would later draw on.

Moving to NYC to pursue Broadway was a trajectory change. And by that I mean, a dead-end. It went nowhere. Not having a theater background, why should casting agents take a chance on an outsider when there were others literally lined out the door for the same parts. So, goodbye performing, hello day job with insurance and financial stability.

Again, years pass and my creative heart is gasping for breath and an outlet. So I join NYC Gay Men’s Chorus (NYCGMC). Great! At first. But I wasn’t used to being one-of-many. Where was my personal impact and edification. I have all this experience but nowhere to APPLY it.

I had sung vocal jazz in college but knew very little of contemporary a cappella singing, a la the Pitch Perfect movies. But something in me stirred. I had deposited so much in my “creative bank,” it was time to cash-out! I pitched (pun intended) the idea to Chorus leadership of creating a queer a cappella group. What I’ve reaped has been precious and life-changing. So I’d say, particularly to anyone coming to their craft later in life, ask yourself this question: What have you ALREADY learned and can it be turned into a creative product that excites and fulfills you. It’s never too late!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Funny thing: There are many queer people who sing in a cappella groups yet there are very few queer a cappella groups. My name is Timorell, I am the creator and director of the award-winning TONEWALL queer a cappella, a small group of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. We “live for the applause of a worthy cause” raising money for the Chorus through appearance fees, while promoting the brand and providing an outlet for talented performers to showcase their craft. We entertain audiences with uplifting anthems, classic tunes, and sexy hits from today’s artists while promoting diversity, queer inclusion, and social equality. We’ve appeared throughout the NYC metro area, in private events and many iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center and the US Open. At a TONEWALL event we encourage you to dance and sing along. We’re guaranteed to make you smile!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Because TONEWALL is entirely volunteer (me included) I thought I should be as flexible as possible, holding rehearsals sparsely and learning only music as needed. Basically, being mindful of the singers’ time and commitment. Sounds honorable yes? Wow, that failed miserably. So I set expectations, rules, and minimum requirements.

Things turned around when I established a set rehearsal night each week. Sure, there was fallout. I had to work harder to ensure we had things to work on even when then weren’t gigs and I lost those not willing to give up a night each week. But the level of commitment increased significantly and it now obvious when a singer needs to “retire” and move on from the group–it shows in their attendance.

Ask a lot from your people. The good ones will rise to the challenge.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative? Two things: For others, bringing joy. Our marketing blurb begins, “Who doesn’t looove a cappella singing?” and it’s true. There something about what we do that brings immediate joy to those who see and hear us.

Second and personally, it’s what I’ve learned about myself and the world by working with inspired, creative and talented queer souls. I’ve seen, first hand, individuals discover their non-binary selves, something that another version of me wouldn’t have understood. Pronouns–what? Now, I get it. I’m a much better human because of the humanity I get to interact with each week.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nycgmc.org/nycgmc-tonewall
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonewallnyc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonewallnyc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOcBs6k2S-_UWhJorunzeYUmvMueJm5u9
• Other: Tiktok @tonewallnyc
  Link Tree https://linktr.ee/tonewallnyc
  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dlwGOptdtKEV6RrycUArQ?si=9ndjrhqQT6eZvQll4nHMoQ
  Apple music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tonewall-queer-a-cappella/1724466657