š
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
š Start Time: 4:00 PM
š Location: Harkness Chapel, Classroom
š„ Who: Free ā open to the public
Our weekly Friday afternoon colloquia feature current research presentations by distinguished visiting scholars, as well as by our own faculty and graduate students in musicology, historical performance practice, and music education.
Following each session, receptions offer a valuable opportunity for social interaction, helping to foster a strong sense of community, camaraderie, and mutual support within the department.
About the Talk
āāMy Chorus is My Lifelineā: LGBTQ+ Choral Participation in Older Adulthoodā
The purpose of this research was to investigate LGBTQ+ older adultsā (LGBTQ+OAs) motivations for joining LGBTQ+-serving choruses (henceforth referred to as Pride Choruses), along with their self-perceived benefits of participation, to determine how singing with LGBTQ+ peers may serve this under-researched populationās unique needs. Researchers have found that older adults have experienced benefits of choir participation following identity-shifting events such as the loss of a loved one, retirement, or health concerns (Suragarn et al., 2021). Similarly, Bird (2017) and Latimer (2008) found that LGBTQ+ individuals may form meaningful relationships in settings that foster community support and identity affirmation, such as a Pride Chorus. This study utilized a survey-based descriptive research design to investigate possible relationships between LGBTQ+OAsā motivations, self-perceived benefits, and demographics. Participants (N = 253) self-identified as LGBTQ+ choristers aged 50 or older. Results indicated that participants were primarily motivated to join their chorus due to social reasons rather than music-based reasons (such as the chorusā repertoire). Similarly, participants identified social aspects of choral participation as more beneficial than mental/emotional/spiritual or physical components. Implications for the profession include the importance of social engagement and belonging in ensembles and retention and recruitment in community Pride Choruses.
About the Speaker
Jessica L. Gallagher-Steuver [STY-ver], she/her, is a passionate music educator, choral conductor, in-demand clinician, and active advocate for social justice. Originally from South Euclid, OH, Jessica is a full-time PhD Candidate in Music Education at Case Western Reserve University and expects to graduate in May 2025. Jessica serves as Instructor of Record of CWRU's University Chorale, Adjunct Professor of Choral Methods at Cleveland State University, and Artistic Director of Windsong, Cleveland's Feminist Chorus. Prior to her time at CWRU, Jessica taught early childhood music, elementary music, middle school choir, and secondary drama programs in Cincinnati, OH. She holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (BM) and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (MM), and looks forward to continuing her teaching and research in the areas of queer studies in music education, and inclusivity and belonging in the choral classroom.
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