We’ve started a Queer+ Choir!

The Wesley Foundation building to host a new queer+ choir for the Southern Illinois area. The Wesley Foundation is a safe meeting place for this choir as a way to increase our intentional inclusion and to build genuine relationship with members of our community.

FAQ:

What’s the choir called?
Tesserae

/ˈtesərə/
plural noun: tesserae
1. a small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic.

When does it meet?
Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 - 9:00pm. We also have a time for fellowship before choir practice called Tesserae Tea, which goes from 6:45 - 7:15pm. If you’re interested in sponsoring one of our tea times, please reach out to tesseraechorus@gmail.com! We’ve found that these fellowship times have been wonderful ways to get to know people in the community and find out what other organizations are safe for us.

What does “queer+” mean?
”Queer+” means anyone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/genderqueer, asexual, etc. OR an ally to people with these identities. It’s important to have a genuinely inclusive community, so the only rule is that you be affirming of other members’ identities and show love in all the ways you can while participating in this choir.

But… it’s held at a ministry building. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?
Nope! The United Methodist Church, with which the Wesley Foundation is affiliated, is now affirming of all persons regardless of sexual identity. For more information about this, please see this article about the recent historic decision about queer inclusion in the United Methodist Church. Also, this choir is not about converting anyone. Its purpose is not religious, but spiritual. All are welcome into this place, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, interest in religion or lack thereof. This is a space of belonging.

How do I sign up?
Just fill out this form!

I see there’s a cost… what if I can’t pay it?
To make sure we can pay our personnel, we do charge a nominal fee for members each season. For this first season, the fee was $15 for community members, $10 for students. In addition, each member purchased their own music, which amounted to a little less than $20. This may change for the second season.

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to set aside the funds for this, please do not feel embarrassed or ashamed. We’ve all been there. Just contact Tasha Morwell, the director of the Wesley Foundation, and she will work with you to make sure you can still participate in the choir.

Who do I talk to if I have questions?
Scott Johnson (artistic director) and Tasha Morwell (community liaison) can be reached at tesseraechorus@gmail.com