Windy City Performing Arts Inc

What Windy City Performing Arts Inc does

Windy City Performing Arts, Inc. (WCPA) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit choral organization founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1983. Its mission is to inspire change, celebrate diversity, and honor the dignity of the LGBTQ+ community through choral music. WCPA operates three auditioned ensembles: the Windy City Gay Chorus (TTBB tenor/bass chorus, the founding ensemble), the Windy City Treble Quire (SSAA soprano/alto chorus), and UNISON: Windy City Lesbian & Gay Singers (a mixed chorus formed in 1992). A smaller sub-ensemble, the Windy City Slickers, performs choreographed lighter repertoire. The organization presents three major thematically-linked concerts annually (Holiday, Spring, and Pride), performs outreach at community events, benefits, civic ceremonies, and Pride parades, and has historically toured nationally to venues including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Membership is voluntary and consists of approximately 70-80 active singers.

WCPA's revenue model combines ticket sales for three major annual concerts, recurring membership dues (with financial assistance available), private donations, and merit grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and City of Chicago Office of Fine Arts. The organization explicitly states that tickets, dues, and grants cover only 60% of operating costs, with the remaining 40% gap funded by community donations. Distribution channels include live performances at Chicago venues (Orchestra Hall, DePaul's Holtschneider Performance Center, Northeastern Illinois University), online ticketing via Eventbrite and Zeffy, donation processing through GiveLively, and recorded music sales through retail and mail order. Marketing is conducted through the windycitysings.org website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, email newsletter, and earned media coverage in LGBTQ+ press. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under Executive Director Giles Lemmens and employs between 1-10 staff, relying primarily on volunteer labor.

Name

Windy City Performing Arts Inc

Legal name

Windy City Performing Arts, Inc.

Website

https://windycitysings.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Windy City Performing Arts is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) non-profit choral organization operating three auditioned ensembles (Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire, and UNISON) that present annual concerts and community performances serving the LGBTQ+ community and broader Chicago audience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Choral music performances
• Community chorus
• LGBTQ performing arts
• Live concert series
• Auditioned vocal ensembles

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: WCPA is a volunteer membership organization that relies on membership dues to help pay for music, performance space, and all operational expenses. Financial assistance is available for those who need it.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concert ticket sales for three major annual concerts (Holiday, Spring, and Pride) plus outreach performances.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501c3 not-for-profit arts organization, WCPA receives donations and grants. Ticket sales, dues, and grants only cover 60% of operating costs, requiring community support to fill the gap.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: The organization has received grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and City of Chicago Office of Fine Arts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA) presents LGBTQ+ affirming choral concerts and operates three auditioned community choruses: the Windy City Gay Chorus (TTBB tenor/bass, founded 1979), the Windy City Treble Quire (SSAA soprano/alto), and UNISON: Windy City Lesbian & Gay Singers (mixed). Each season the organization produces three major themed concerts (Holiday, Spring, and Pride), supplemented by community outreach performances at civic events, benefits, and festivals in Chicago and beyond.

Product overview

Windy City Performing Arts operates as a not-for-profit performing arts organization (501c3) comprising multiple choral ensembles. The core offerings include the Windy City Gay Chorus (TTBB tenor/bass chorus), the Windy City Treble Quire (SSAA soprano/alto chorus), and UNISON: Windy City Lesbian & Gay Singers (mixed chorus). Additionally, the Windy City Slickers sub-ensemble performs choreographed lighter repertoire. The organization presents three major annual concerts (Holiday, Spring, and Pride seasons), produces commercial recordings, and provides community outreach performances. Membership is by audition, with rehearsals held weekly on Mondays (WCTQ) and Wednesdays (WCGC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Windy City Gay Chorus The TTBB (tenor/bass) chorus of Windy City Performing Arts, founded in 1979, performing three major concerts annually (Holiday, Spring, and Pride) and community outreach across Chicago and beyond for general audiences, LGBTQ+ community members, and civic event organizers.
• Windy City Treble Quire The SSAA (soprano/alto) chorus of Windy City Performing Arts, rehearsing on Mondays at 7:30 pm and performing in seasonal concerts and outreach events for soprano and alto singers aligned with the organization's LGBTQ+ affirming mission.
• UNISON: Windy City Lesbian & Gay Singers A mixed-voice chorus of women and men formed in 1992 under WCPA, performing repertoire that challenges traditional choral expectations for general audiences, LGBTQ+ community members, and civic events.
• Windy City Slickers A smaller ensemble of approximately 17 members drawn from the full chorus that performs choreographed, lighter repertoire in addition to full chorus concerts for audiences at concerts and outreach events.
• Seasonal Concert Series (Comfort & Joy, Rooted & Radiant, Singing for Our Lives) Three themed annual concert productions – Comfort & Joy (Holiday), Rooted & Radiant (Spring), and Singing for Our Lives (Pride) – each thematically connected around community values and LGBTQ+ celebration, performed for general audiences, LGBTQ+ community members, and civic event attendees.
• Audition Program

Quantifiable outcome

• First openly gay group to win first place in national choral competition (Johnny Mann Great American Choral Festival, 1984)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCGC was a founding member of GALA Choruses, hosting the first meeting of gay chorus directors and managers in 1981 which led to the organization's formation. GALA now has over 100 member choruses on four continents. WCGC maintains a strong leadership role, providing members to its board of directors and working to foster the gay choral movement.
• New York City Gay Men's ChoruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint concert at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in February 1982. WCGC made its New York debut at this sold-out performance of 2,700 people. The two founding choruses of the gay choral movement maintained a long-standing collaborative relationship, with subsequent joint Pride concerts.
• Twin Cities Men's ChorusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst gay chorus from outside Chicago to perform with WCGC in April 1983. Joint concerts continued in 1984 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, with mayoral proclamations from St. Paul and Minneapolis supporting the collaboration.
• Chicago Children's ChoirmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric collaborative holiday concert in December 1991, the first joint concert between these two hometown volunteer groups dedicated to musical excellence.
• Chicago Gay Men's ChoruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed joint concerts including 'Chicago Sings Against AIDS' at Park West and Pride concert productions at Medinah Temple. Both are Chicago's LGBTQ+ choral organizations under the WCPA umbrella.
• Denver Gay Men's ChorusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint concert exchange: WCGC traveled to Denver to perform at Boettcher Hall (March 1987), and Denver Gay Men's Chorus subsequently performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago (June 1987).
• Gay Men's Chorus of WashingtonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCGC performed with GMoCW in Washington D.C. (1988) and was invited to perform during the March on Washington weekend in April 1993, with performances at the National Cathedral and mainstage.
• Howard Brown ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWCGC has performed at Howard Brown Clinic's anniversary celebrations and annual fund-raisers, supporting this Chicago LGBTQ+ health organization.
• DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWCGC performed at DIFFA's Heart Strings benefit, supporting AIDS awareness and research.
• UNISON: Windy City Lesbian and Gay SingerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMixed chorus formed under WCPA in 1992, fulfilling the founding vision of men and women singing together. Made debut at 'Don We Now XIV' holiday concert in December 1992.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GALA Choruses: International association of LGBTQ+ choruses of which WCPA is a founding member. Includes 100+ choruses across four continents and serves as an industry body, festival organizer, and advocacy group.

Direct peers

• San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: Pioneering LGBTQ+ chorus founded in 1978 that operates a similar TTBB ensemble, community engagement, and Pride programming model to WCPA in another major U.S. city.
• Denver Gay Men's Chorus: Denver-based LGBTQ+ chorus that hosted WCGC for joint concerts at Boettcher Hall. Operates a comparable community chorus model with strong civic partnerships and Pride programming.
• New York City Gay Men's Chorus: One of the largest and most established LGBTQ+ choruses in the U.S., founded in 1979 alongside WCGC. Both are founding members of GALA Choruses and have a long history of joint performances, including at Lincoln Center.
• Twin Cities Men's Chorus: Minneapolis-based LGBTQ+ chorus that performed joint concerts with WCGC starting in 1983. Operates a comparable volunteer community chorus model focused on Pride performances and civic engagement.
• Gay Men's Chorus of Washington: Long-standing LGBTQ+ chorus in Washington D.C. with which WCGC has a documented joint-performance history (1988 and the 1993 March on Washington). Comparable mission, audience, and civic engagement strategy.
• Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles: Major LGBTQ+ choral organization in Los Angeles, comparable in mission, repertoire, and community engagement model to WCPA. Co-founded by Jerry Carlson, one of WCPA's founders, who later became its musical director.

Regional players

• Chicago Children's Choir: Long-established Chicago-based choral organization with which WCPA co-presented a joint holiday concert in 1991. Operates a comparable choral performance and education mission, though focused on youth rather than the LGBTQ+ community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/windycitysings
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WindyCitySings
• Facebookfacebook.com/windycitysings
• Instagraminstagram.com/windycityperformingarts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Windy City Performing Arts Inc