San Diego Gay Men's Chorus

What San Diego Gay Men's Chorus does

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus (SDGMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization operating in San Diego, California, founded in 1985 in its predecessor form and reconstituted in 2010 through the merger of the San Diego Men's Chorus and the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego. The organization fields a TTBB (tenor, baritone, bass) chorus of 100-150+ active singers and dancers, making it one of the ten largest GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) choruses in the United States. Its mission is to create positive musical experiences through performances that engage audiences, build community support, and serve as a force for social change, with a focus on LGBTQ+ visibility and representation.

SDGMC's core products are a recurring slate of live concert productions — including the Jingle holiday concert series, Summer Nights Cabaret, Chamber Chorale Concert, Smooth Sailing summer concert, HERstory cabaret series, and the When in Rome annual fundraising gala — alongside community events such as the Pride in Every Drop Blood Drive. The organization also sells ticketed performances through Zeffy and UCSD Evenue, offers private/corporate booking services (fees typically $1,000-$5,000 plus expenses), and runs auditions for new chorus members with weekly Monday rehearsals at UCC Church in Hillcrest.

The revenue model combines five streams: member dues ($75 per 4-month concert cycle), tiered individual donations ($50 Friend through $10,000+ Conductor's Circle, both one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships (Apple, Qualcomm, Alaska Airlines, SDGE, Cox Business, plus municipal arts funding), ticket sales, and performance booking fees. Distribution is primarily regional across San Diego County, with national visibility through media appearances on Netflix's 'Boots' and the Jennifer Hudson Show. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by a President, with executive leadership from an Interim Executive Director and a Guest Artistic Director.

Name

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus

Legal name

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus Inc.

Website

https://sdgmc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization that fields a 100-150+ member TTBB chorus producing recurring live concerts, cabarets, galas, and community events for LGBTQ+ and allied audiences across San Diego County, funded through donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, and performance bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Community choral performances
• Lgbtq performing arts
• Live concert productions
• Cabaret entertainment shows
• Fundraising gala events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: Singers pay $75 per concert cycle (4 months). Non-singing members pay no dues. This covers participation in the chorus and access to rehearsals and performances.
2. Donations & Contributions: Individual donors contribute at various tiers from $50 (Friend) to $10,000 (Conductor's Circle), with both one-time and monthly recurring options. Sponsorship packages are also offered to corporate sponsors.
3. Ticket Sales: Proceeds from concert ticket sales across multiple event types including full chorus concerts, cabarets, galas, and chamber performances. Tickets sold through Zeffy platform.
4. Performance Booking Fees: The chorus is available to book for events. Performance fees typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 plus additional expenses. This includes private and public events with large or small ensemble options.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages may include exclusive season sponsorship, specific performance sponsorship, event/performance branding, website/social media branding, special performances for companies/employees/clients, program advertising, and tickets to performances/events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus is a non-profit performing arts organization that produces and performs live choral and cabaret concerts, including annual productions such as the Jingle holiday concert, Summer Nights Cabaret, Smooth Sailing summer show, Chamber Chorale Concert, HERstory cabaret series, and When in Rome Gala. The TTBB chorus of over 100 singers and dancers also accepts chorus membership via auditions, offers event booking for private and corporate engagements, and operates tiered donor and sponsorship programs to fund its mission of community building and social change through music.

Product overview

San Diego Gay Men's Chorus is a non-profit performing arts organization offering a portfolio of concert productions and community services. The core offerings include major concert series (Jingle holiday show, Summer Nights Cabaret, Smooth Sailing, Chamber Chorale, and HERstory cabaret series), annual fundraising galas (When in Rome), and community events (blood drives). The organization also provides event booking services for external performances, operates a tiered donor/membership program, and offers corporate sponsorship packages. Membership in the TTBB chorus is available through auditions, with weekly rehearsals and concert participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 singers and dancers on the current roster, making it one of the largest gay choruses in the world
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• City of San DiegosupportingOthersThe City of San Diego is listed as a supporter/sponsor on the SDGMC website footer, indicating a municipal support relationship for San Diego's prominent LGBTQ+ arts organization.
• SD Commission for Arts and CulturesupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. This indicates arts and culture grant or endorsement support from San Diego's official arts commission.
• Alaska AirlinessupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. Alaska Airlines provides support as a corporate sponsor.
• QualcommsupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. Qualcomm provides corporate sponsorship support.
• SDGEsupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. San Diego Gas & Electric provides corporate sponsorship support.
• Cox BusinesssupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. Cox Business provides corporate sponsorship support.
• ApplesupportingOthersListed as a supporter in the website footer. Apple provides corporate sponsorship support.
• GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDGMC is one of the ten largest GALA choruses. SDGMC's artistic leadership (Steve Milloy, Charles Beale) serve on the GALA Choruses Board of Directors. GALA presents festivals and shares best practices across the queer choral movement globally.
• Global Alliance of Queer ChoirscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Dr. Charles Beale (SDGMC Artistic Director 2022). This global organization brings a global perspective to the LGBTIQ+ choral movement. SDGMC leadership plays a central role in this international alliance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• London Gay Men's Chorus: Long-running international LGBTQ+ men's chorus also formerly led by Dr. Charles Beale (2002-2007). Comparable to SDGMC in mission, voice structure, and choral performance programming.
• Cincinnati Men's Chorus: Midwest LGBTQ+ men's chorus previously led by Steve Milloy. Comparable to SDGMC in mission, ensemble structure, and community-based nonprofit funding model.
• Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus: Long-standing LGBTQ+ men's chorus in Southern California founded in 1978. Comparable to SDGMC in mission, voice structure (TTBB), concert-driven revenue model, and community programming, and a direct source of SDGMC's predecessor organization.
• San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: One of the most prominent LGBTQ+ men's choruses in the United States, founded in 1978. Directly comparable to SDGMC as a TTBB chorus producing annual concert series, galas, and community programming with comparable scale and structure.
• Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC: Mid-Atlantic LGBTQ+ men's chorus specializing in concert and community programming. Comparable to SDGMC in scale, mission, and revenue mix including ticket sales, sponsorships, and individual donations.
• MenAlive - Orange County Gay Men's Chorus: Southern California LGBTQ+ men's chorus previously led by Steve Milloy, SDGMC's current Guest Artistic Director. Closely comparable in region, voice structure, and community programming.
• Seattle Men's Chorus: Pacific Northwest LGBTQ+ men's chorus and part of the broader Spectrum Singers organization. Comparable to SDGMC in audience-driving choral programming, holiday concerts, and donor-driven funding model.
• New York City Gay Men's Chorus: Major LGBTQ+ men's chorus led by SDGMC's former Artistic Director Dr. Charles Beale (2007-2019). Directly comparable in mission, performance scale, and tour/choral programming.

Regional players

• San Diego Women's Chorus: San Diego-based LGBTQ+ and allied women's chorus serving a similar community with comparable concert programming, donor base, and venue footprint. Closely comparable in mission and geography but different voice profile.

Broad incumbents

• GALA Choruses: International association of LGBTQ+ choruses with over 190 member ensembles. SDGMC sits on its board and is one of the ten largest member choruses; relevant as the industry umbrella and standards body rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDGMC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SDGayMensChorus
• Facebookfacebook.com/SDGMC
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdgaymenschorus
• TikToktiktok.com/@sdgaymenschorus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdgmc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Diego Gay Men's Chorus