» Bayou City Performing Arts

BCPA was founded as the Montrose Singers, Inc.in November of 1979. Led by founding director Andy Mills, the Houston based men's chorus met with early successes marked by lavish productions at the Tower Theatre, performing with as many as 80 singing members. Recently the organization has expanded to include both the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston (GMCH) and a new exciting addition: the Bayou City Women's Chorus (BCWC). Both choruses now operate under the same corporate organization and umbrella name: Bayou City Performing Arts.

The Gay Men's Chorus is the most visible face of diversity in Houston. Since our founding in 1979 as The Montrose Singers, audiences have been healed, uplifted, moved, and delighted. With a membership of over 100 performers supported by over 40 volunteer staff, GMCH represents the finest collective talent in Houston’s GLBT community. We are part of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) with over 10,000 members worldwide. GMCH is continuing to grow thanks to our recent success brought about by the addition of James Knapp, our artistic director. Our song is from the heart and our many voices are united as one community.

The Bayou City Women’s Chorus is the second choral group to emerge from the Bayou City Performing Arts. Meetings for interested singers and supporters have been held monthly since January 2005 and we have grown in number from 5 to 50 interested singers. We are a diverse group of women who came together for one simple purpose: to sing as one voice. Recruitment of singers, volunteers, contributors and audience members is presently underway.

CPA's 27 seasons of continuous activity have been distinguished by innumerable performance accomplishments. Among these successes were appearances at the Gay Games and Cultural Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia and the GALA Choruses conventions in Denver in 1992, Tampa Bay in 1996, San Jose in 2000, and most recently in Montreal in 2004. Both Choruses will attend the 2008 GALA Choruses Convention in Miami. In 1998, GMCH made its second appearance with the Houston Symphony, performing Schoenberg's Gurrelieder.