Songs are powerful. They can uplift, they can connect, they can say things in ways not possible through other mediums. Without thinking too hard, you can probably list a few that held particular meaning for you at different times in your life, as though their message was written just for you.
It’s that power that the Queer Songbook Orchestra taps into in its performances.
Formed in 2014, the Queer Songbook Orchestra (QSO) was the natural coming together of different aspects of founder Shaun Brodie’s life.
“I’ve been playing in pop bands for a long time, I’m queer, I have an interest in narrative and storytelling, and I kind of wanted to go into radio journalism and make radio documentaries,” he says. “All of those things intersecting is what led to this project for me.”
Brodie looked around to see if there was a similar project happening anywhere in the world. He didn’t find one.
“It seemed to me that there was space for something like this to exist, and that was telling queer stories from another angle and tying it into pop music…to explore queer experience in that way,” he says. It was an experiment—one that, going into its sixth year, continues to resonate with audiences.
“I think queer audiences sort of identify in a lot of ways with the stories that they’re being told, and straight audiences understand the experience a little more and maybe have a little more compassion for us,” says Brodie. “I think it can help to sort of broaden people’s perspectives on various queer experience.”
The Queer Songbook Orchestra has criss-crossed the country many times over the past five years, “collecting stories, narratives of queer experience,” he adds, “and so we build our show from these narratives. They’re either personal narratives that people have given to us, in order to be part of the show and shared in our performance, or historical narratives about significant songwriters or performers who may be known or their songs may be known but their backstory and the queer backstory to them is not.”
The QSO features a 12-piece chamber pop ensemble, performing new interpretations of songs by some of Canada’s top composers and arrangers. Each piece is preceded by narration from members of the ensemble or local LGBTQ2+ community members. It’s an experience both intimate and personal, powerful and vulnerable.
The anecdotes shared between songs are an intimate aspect of the Queer Songbook Orchestra (supplied)
“I think it will appeal to pretty much anyone in Muskoka who enjoys music and enjoys learning about other people,” says Shawn Forth, Muskoka Pride board member.
“Our theme for this year is ‘Reflecting Pride’,” he adds. “We want people to take some time and reflect on the progress that has been made in the last 50 years for LGBTQ rights across Canada, and recognizing that there are still people who fall under the rainbow umbrella who are some of the more marginalized groups—such as queer people of colour, or people who are identified as transgender or nonbinary—who are still facing discrimination on a daily basis. So we’re trying to be celebratory, reflective and educational.”
Muskoka Pride is still very much a grassroots, volunteer-based organization, but it has made significant progress since its first picnic in 2009, says Forth. “From our first picnic, held in Gravenhurst in 2009, which had 25 to 26 people attend and we really weren’t sure what their reaction would be, to last year seeing partial closing of streets in downtown Bracebridge and seeing almost 1,000 people celebrating diversity in Muskoka [at the Muskoka Pride Parade and Picnic]. It’s neat to see the progress that has been made.”
Forth says events hosted by community groups are a wonderful addition to the Muskoka Pride Festival. “[The QSO] is an amazing fit. And it kind of fits with where we’re trying to go with the festival, which is having more groups from within Muskoka hosting events of their own. For us, it’s the reality that there’s a limited number of volunteers to be able to pull off a festival that’s gotten bigger and bigger.”
Dan Watson, Executive Director of Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA), which is presenting the show in partnership with Muskoka Pride, says, “We are thrilled to be able to bring this beautiful and important work to Muskoka. We’d also like to thank TD Bank, whose sponsorship has made it possible.”
The Queer Songbook Orchestra comes to the Algonquin Theatre stage on Thursday, July 25. Tickets are on sale for $38 per adult or $32 for HFA members. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (705) 789-4975 or visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
Related stories:
Muskoka Pride flag-raising celebrates inclusion
Tenth annual Muskoka Pride Festival launches with kickoff party in River Mill Park
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