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MICHAEL DUNNE: We're lucky in our community to have such great performing acts like the symphony, the ballet and so much more. Yet, there's another live performance company that both provides entertainment, but also, for more than three decades, has provided a safe space for our area's lesbian community. Today, on the show, you'll hear about the Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene, who will be performing this weekend at the Hult center, and through song, they'll be singing their story of perseverance and strength. Then in the second half of the show, our own arts and culture reporter will give us the 411 on what's happening this spring and summer. Lisa Hellemn, who is the music director, and Kaydee Hallert, who is a member of the Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene, thanks to you both for coming on and chatting with us.
LISA HELLEMN: Sure. It's great to be here,
MICHAEL DUNNE: Lisa, I'm going to start with you. Just tell us about the Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene.
LISA HELLEMN: Oh my gosh, there's a whole book coming out about that. So, I don't know that I could tell you in a short amount of time, but 35 years ago, we were founded in a living room. There were six singers in a living room, and we were singing in a time when you couldn't really be out at work, you couldn't be lesbian in the community, you couldn't be yourself. You couldn't be known at your job often. And so, people gathered in a safe space to just be themselves. And they were people that like to sing. So, they got it started, and then we ended up here, 35 years later. Times are different, but we still find that we when we use our full name, Lesbian Chorus of Eugene, we still get turned away from some venues. We still are erased, especially our trans community and non-binary folks. So, things have changed a lot and things haven't changed at all.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Kaydee, why did you join and what do you get out of it?
KAYDEE HALLERT: Yeah, that's a really great question. So, I joined my first season in 2012 and I had a friend who was part of the choir. We went out and did karaoke, and she was like, Oh my gosh, you can sing! You should come join my choir and check it out, sort of deal. Yeah, and I absolutely love to sing. I was one of those kids that you just could not shut up in the car for singing, and was always encouraged to sing, and I was, I didn't know I needed it at the time, but I really wanted to join something that was bigger than myself. And so, my new friend had invited me to come check it out, and I absolutely fell in love with it. It reminded me of being in school and like other choirs that I had been in, and what I wasn't really prepared for was the community that this organization really embodies. And what I mean by that is like, once you become, you know, part of the choir. There are so many friendly, happy women who are really fighting the good fight and trying to support those that are around them. And that comes in many small ways. It is in, you know, the weekly practice that we have, and it's also like what happens outside of the rehearsals and the practice and the concerts and all of that, are we meeting the needs of our members and just really looking at ways to support everyone emotionally and all that is through song and through music. And I just, I absolutely love that. So that's why I joined, and also why I have stayed on for so long, is because of that sense of community and really being a part of, again, something larger than myself.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Lisa, I wonder too, from your perspective, , talk about the importance of this chorus, from both the local lesbian community, but also to the wider community in general.
LISA HELLEMN: When I came on board, I came on board very, very early. I came on board a year two. I was new to Eugene. In fact, I hadn't moved yet from the coast, and I was intrigued, because any time when I saw this group, it was at the Eugene celebrations back in the day, I saw the choir, and even though I had more formal music training, it made me stop and watch. And I was really watching the audience, and not just the choir. The choir was singing songs. It was clear that they were pretty new, because they were trying to figure out what they were doing, and they had but they were totally in it, and that was great, but the audience were kind of it was almost Gosh - t it was almost a spectacle more than a choir concert, because people were like, oh, these are people that are just openly calling themselves lesbian, and they're in a group and they're singing. And then after, you know, five minutes of watching them, everything changed. I mean, I was watching people in the audience actually undoing stereotypes, and that was so important. So, I think what I get out of it in terms of the community and how we support each other is one thing, but what the audience comes to it with really depends on what their experience has been in their exposure, whether they understand people that are different than themselves, or all of that. So, it's hard to answer that.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Well, you did a very nice job. You know, Katie, I'm going to go to you. As a member of the choir, as a singer. Do you think that song can help bridge divides between different groups of people?
KAYDEE HALLERT: I really honestly, do believe that. I've seen it firsthand when we are performing how impactful and moving our song can be to our audience. There's a lot of times where you know the music itself, the message that's being brought from the music, for some people, is the first time they're hearing it, or they're thinking about the perspective of how this, the words and the movement and all that sort of stuff from that particular song affects them personally, because it does become a personal experience, although we're performing to, You know, hundreds or 1000 people at a time, like everyone comes away from it with a different experience. And so, the message that we're pushing out there, you know, during each piece and each performance, is impactful in many ways. Like we in the past, we've had concerts that have been targeted towards the younger LGBTQ community, and we've encouraged them to come there. And after the concert, we've had folks come up and talk to us and how, you know, they've cried, and they've talked about how I really feel this, you know, what you guys are trying to convey. Or they've brought along a parent or a family friend, or somebody who needed to hear some of this messaging, and it was the right method for them to get it across that we're all just trying to, you know, be loved for who we are and then that, that to me, is really important, and it's Also part of why I keep with it, and I want to perform and be a part of the choir.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Lisa, you're the music director. Talk about sort of building a show. Talk about the selection of songs that you all sing, and how you put that all together.
LISA HELLEMN: Well, one of the most exciting things that happens for us every year is that at the end of our season, rather than me going away and looking for music, the choir actually has a full day retreat, and they listen to songs and they select most of the music 80%, 85% of the music for the next year. And so, the choir does the heavy lifting. They're submitting songs right now. They've already submitted them, and then we'll go away in June and look at what those songs are and do a bunch of the selection. So, after that happens, then we do some arranging, and then we start out because we're a non-audition group. We can't just give everyone music and expect them to have it down in, you know, 10 weeks. So, what we do is we work on a third of our repertoire, and we take it to the Holiday Market, and then we perform that, and then we take another set of music and learn that. And so, we have concerts where we trot out different parts of it so that we can put it all together in a level of production that is worthy of the Hult Center. We're so lucky to perform there, but it takes us all season to prepare for a big show like this.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Yeah, and I'm going to stay with you Lisa, just tell us, sort of the details of the concert that's coming up this weekend.
LISA HELLEMN: Oh my gosh, it's so exciting. So, what's happening right now? This is concert week, and tomorrow we have a rehearsal with the regular choir, the 91 that are going to be on stage, or whatever. So, they'll be in to dress rehearse about let's see, I think 12 songs of the 20 that were, that are, that are planned, and we'll do all the work we need there, behind the scenes, though, there's an art exhibit, a history exhibit that's getting put together and that they're running down artifacts. And so, then Wednesday is nice and calm. I only have a few things to do. Thursday, we have our reunion folks coming in for rehearsal. So, we have an additional 35 members coming from all over the country to join us, and they're coming in, and we're going to have a little silly awards banquet, and then we're going to have a rehearsal where we dress the eight songs that they're singing with us. Some of them have been with us, but only on Zoom, yeah. So, it'll be fun. We'll see people from Florida and Michigan and North Carolina and all over Texas. So, we'll get to see our friends. And then Friday, while some of us are loading in and building the stage and doing all the lighting design, which is a pretty full day. Others are going to be installing the art history exhibit downstairs in the Jacobs Gallery, and so you can actually see costumes from over the 35 years. No, you can see like we didn't start out with written music, because a lot of our members still don't read music still to this day, so it shows kind of the evolution of some of the things you're talking like, what we how we did this. Yeah, that's super exciting. And then Friday, then Saturday is our Tech Day, so we'll be “teching” all morning, and then we'll have an evening performance on Saturday and at a matinee performance on Sunday.
MICHAEL DUNNE: So, lots going on. Katie, last question to you, what's it like being a performer in the Hult center? You kind of describe how it feels to suddenly look out and see this enormous, wonderful venue and there you are.
KAYDEE HALLERT: Yeah, the Hult center is such a fun venue to perform at. It makes me feel like I'm famous constantly. But, you know, you get a little bit of the like, wow, this is big there. There are a lot of people watching us right now. And it also just brings up the level of performance for everyone. Because when we're in rehearsal, although we're good, we sound great. We sound amazing. But once everyone's on the stage, it's like show time, and we really bring our best and do our absolute best on that stage. And it is a ton of fun for us. There's a lot of work getting there, but it's really wonderful, and I'm excited to sing in that theater again. It's always a good time.
LISA HELLEMN: Katie actually has a solo, and she's part of a gospel trio that I actually know will bring down the house.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Well, we will be listening for that. She is Lisa Hellemn, the music director and Kaydee Hallert, who's going to be part of that gospel trio and having a solo this weekend at the Hult center for the Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene. Thanks to you both for coming on and chatting with us.
KAYDEE HALLERT: Oh, thank you so much, Michael.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Let's get ready for spring and summer and a season's worth of events by bringing in our arts and culture expert Kendra Schertell, our arts and culture reporter and editor of the shortcut, thanks for coming in and chatting with us.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: Thanks for having me.
MICHAEL DUNNE: I think there are two, two types of people in the world, those that made spring and summer plans like in the deepest, darkest parts of winter, and there are folks like me who are like, Oh, it's already May. What am I going to do? So glad we have you here. Why don't you talk about some of the things, some of the events, some of the happenings that you've uncovered in our listening area, and maybe just go month to month?
KENDRA SCHERTELL: We'll look ahead so we can plan ahead. I found several things for May actually, okay, here in Eugene, we've always got stuff going on in Eugene. On May 23 is the Asian Night Market, which is going to be at the farmers market pavilion. So, there's like, dance music, food, nice, great things, nice. And then May 25 is the Eugene tea Festival, which I didn't know we had, which is great. I love tea. So, if you love tea, go there. Okay, okay. And then May 31 is the Eugene Scottish festival, from 9 - 6, and they have traditional food and kilts and bagpipes and all those good things.
MICHAEL DUNNE: I'm imagining haggis will make an appearance at that.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: I think it will.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Didn't you tell me you've had that before?
KENDRA SCHERTELL: I did. I've tried haggis. It was fried. So maybe it's a little better than traditional haggis, I don't know, but this wouldn't be traditional because it's illegal to include sheep lung.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Well, there you go. There you go. There will be no illegal haggis consumption at this event!
KENDRA SCHERTELL: And then June, if we want to move to June, yeah, in Eugene. Anyway, there's going to be the Pride festival at the main event center. Okay, that's something to look forward to very much, so, but we can move on to Corvallis. There we go. So on May 18, there's going to be a retro gaming event at the Benton County Event Center. Are you a gamer?
MICHAEL DUNNE: I'm not. My son kind of got into it, and I'm probably, I may have aged out of being a gamer, I don't know.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: Then this is perfect for you. There are retro games. You can play Pong.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Wow, wait a second. Okay, okay, old guys going to make it and make an appearance there at Pong!
KENDRA SCHERTELL: You know that's not that old.
MICHAEL DUNNE: It's older than you!!
KENDRA SCHERTELL: That'll be fun. And then May 31 is Corvallis pride. They're doing it early, I guess. Okay, so that's going to be at Central Park. And then for Corvallis in June, I found the open street festival. So on the 29th 11 to three between Lily Park and Willamette Park, they're going to have that whole street open and just have some fun stuff. And then if we want to move on to Bend there's a couple things going on. Okay? May 26 it's the annual North American pond skimming championships.
MICHAEL DUNNE: pond skimming? You said, skimming? Okay, I've certainly, you know, skipped rocks on ponds. But what is skimming?
KENDRA SCHERTELL: So, it's when they go down the mountain, I've seen some videos, and try on skis, and they try and go across the pond.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Oh, yeah, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't be good at that.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: No? But it's fun to watch. The greatest pond skimmers in our region are there at Mount Bachelor. And then June 7 is Bend's pride, okay, at Drake Park. So really, a lot of great pride festivals throughout the region. And then Lincoln city, okay. May 27 there's this tide pool exploring. And this is like a reoccurring event that they do where you can go down to the tide pools and meet an expert, and they'll, like, talk to you about it. So kind of nice, yeah, and that's on Northwest 15th Street, okay? And then June 21 through the 22nd is their annual summer kite festival. I love kites. And then, of course, you know, if you're closer to Portland, maybe this works for you. The Holly Spring Harvest Fest at Topaz farm. It's May 31 so it's a Hindu Spring Fest of. Where you wear all white and then you throw colored powder at each other.
MICHAEL DUNNE: That's right, I've seen videos of things like that that look to be a blast.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: It is really fun, as long as you don't mind it being thrown in your face, exactly, maybe wear goggles or something, paint your eyes. And then June. There's a lot of Juneteenth celebrations all over Oregon, in Albany and Salem. And, of course, there's music festivals, and then again, I mean, in June, there's a lot of festivals. We got the Renaissance Fair, which is my favorite, and the Oregon Bach Festival is starting at the end of June, which is legendary. There's and they're all over there, scattered everywhere. Yeah, and the Oregon Country Fair, ah, yes, which I've heard about.
MICHAEL DUNNE: you're not a true Eugenian until you've been to the Oregon Country Fair, or Lane County resident, unless you've been to the country fair.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: I've heard so many things, and I know we're going to be there.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Absolutely, absolutely, we'll be recording and we'll be broadcasting from the main stage.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: And then there's the Bohemia mining days in Cottage Grove. And that's, that's in July, And of course, you can always find other things going on in your area through the library, your local library, or Parks and Recreation Department. If you're looking for, like, free, low-key events, state parks always do things as well, like hikes and bird watches. That's always something to look out for, too.
MICHAEL DUNNE: And you can always check out the shortcut, of course.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: Yes, the shortcut as well.
MICHAEL DUNNE: Kendra Schertell, thanks so much for coming.
KENDRA SCHERTELL: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
MICHAEL DUNNE: That's the show for today. All episodes of Oregon on the record are available as a podcast at klcc.org. Monday. On the show, you'll hear from business leaders and owners about the challenge of affordable child care in our region and what organizations and businesses are doing to find solutions. I'm Michael Dunne, and this has been Oregon on the record from KLCC. Thanks for listening.
