Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles to Present PRIDE Concert, DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE, and 2026 GALA

Read our full press release on Broadway World.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles presents the Season 47 finale and Pride concert

DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE,

a special celebration of national and individual freedom and pride and America’s 250th Anniversary, featuring guest artist Grammy- and Golden Globe Award- nominated producer and songwriter Justin Tranter on June 27 and 28, 2026 at the historic Saban Theatre

GMCLA annual Gala follows the Saturday, June 27 concert and honors guest artist Justin Tranter, Academy Award-winning composer, editor and producer John Ottman, and rising collegiate volleyball player Jordan Lucas

Benefit to fund the Chorus’s nationally recognized education and community programs,

Tickets to GMCLA’s concert and gala are NOW on sale at GMCLA.org!

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 29, 2026) – Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles is pleased to present the Season 47 finale and Pride concert, DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE, on Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 3:30 p.m. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. This Pride Month musical tribute will feature some of the most important protest songs and anthems—celebrating nation, community and pride—as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, performed by GMCLA’s 200-member Chorus. The electrifying evening, conducted by GMCLA Artistic Director Ernest H. Harrison and choreographed by Ray Leeper (GMCLA regular, Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars), will feature special guest artist, Grammy- and Golden Globe Award-nominated producer and songwriter, and activist, Justin Tranter (Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”; Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next, among others), who will perform a medley of his hit songs.

Additionally, composer Saunder Choi, has composed a newly commissioned song, Credo, for this special occasion. The piece explores faith, identity, humanity, and hope, with lyrics by Los Angeles Poet Laureate and author Brian Sonia-Wallace.

As the U.S. turns 250, GMCLA raises their voices for independence and pride through the songs that have defined generations—from "Defying Gravity" and "Don’t Rain on My Parade" to "Born This Way," "We Shall Overcome," and "Imagine." Featuring an electrifying mix of anthems both personal and political, DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE is a powerful celebration of identity, resilience and

the freedom to be heard.

“This concert is going to be extraordinary and historically important,” said Executive Director & Producer Lou Spisto. “We sing to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in the way only GMCLA can. We sing for independence of spirit and the freedom to be yourself, to belong to a community that celebrates authenticity and humanity during a complicated moment for our country. The Chorus will cover everything from pop, folk and protest music to musical theater, gospel and major choral works, with a new commemorative work from composer Saunder Choi titled Credo. We’ll also be bringing music from these concerts, as well as the recent March program, to audiences at World Pride in Amsterdam and London this summer.”

The Pride concert DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE will take place on Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 3:30 p.m. at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills (8440 Wilshire Boulevard). Single tickets range from $49 to $129 and are now available online at GMCLA.org.

The Chorus will also present GMCLA’s 2026 GALA immediately after the Saturday concert of DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE. The annual fundraiser will take place in the beautifully restored Art Deco lobby of the Saban Theatre. Proceeds from the gala will benefit GMCLA’s nationally recognized Alive Music Project in the schools and free concert performances in the community.

GMCLA’s 2026 GALA celebration begins as guests arrive for the concert with photos on the GMCLA Pink Carpet. A fabulous silent auction featuring unique experiences and exciting travel packages will be available for bidding online prior to the event, and auction items will be on display at the concert and dinner. After the concert, gala guests will enjoy an open bar before being seated for an elegant dinner and exciting live auction in the Saban Theater’s beautifully restored art deco lobby rotunda.

Each year, GMCLA honors outstanding individuals, companies or institutions with GMCLA’s Voice Award, a longstanding Chorus tradition. This year, GMCLA will present Voice Awards to songwriter, singer, activist, and DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE special guest artist Justin Tranter at the gala dinner; Academy- and BAFTA Award-winning composer, editor and producer John Ottman; and collegiate volleyball player at Cal State Northridge, Jordan Lucas.

“At GMCLA’s Gala, we will honor three extraordinary people with our annual Voice Award,” shared Executive Director & Producer Lou Spisto. “Justin Tranter is a visionary songwriter, creator and outspoken advocate whose music and voice have had a profound impact on both popular culture and the LGBTQ+ community. Justin will perform a medley of hit songs that promises to be one of the highlights of the evening. Academy Award-winning composer and editor John Ottman will be honored as well. We’ll perform his choral work from Valkyrie during the concert, and we’re thrilled that such a remarkable multi-hyphenate artist will join us for the festivities. Finally, we’re proud to spotlight Jordan Lucas, a rising collegiate volleyball star whose openness, confidence and authenticity are inspiring young people throughout Los Angeles and beyond. Jordan, who will make a guest appearance in one of our dance numbers, represents a powerful new generation of out and proud young leaders who are changing the culture simply by being themselves.”

Individual gala tickets are $750, $1,250, and $2,500 and table sponsorships are available for 10 guests at $7,500 and $12,500, and $25,000. All gala tickets and sponsorships include prime front orchestra seating for the concert and special recognition in the program and on GMCLA’s website. Complimentary parking and program ads are also included in the upper-level ticket and sponsorship benefits. The 2026 GALA will be held immediately after the concert at the Saban Theatre.

For Gala reservations and table sponsorships, visit GMCLA.org/gala or contact Brian Tillis at brian@gmcla.org.

DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE AND 2026 GALA BIOGRAPHIES

JUSTIN TRANTER (Guest Artist & Gala Honoree) is one of the most in-demand producers and songwriters in music today, an ACLU Bill of Rights Award-winning activist and founder of Facet Records and Facet Publishing. With over 75 million single sales, 100 billion streams on Spotify and YouTube alone, 3 diamond-certified songs and dozens of honors as well as multiple GRAMMY and Golden Globes nominations (including a “Songwriter Of The Year” nomination at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards as well as a “Song Of The Year” nomination at the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards for his work on Chappell Roan’s "Good Luck, Babe!"),16 total BMI Pop Awards and two consecutive “Songwriter of the Year'' titles at the BMI Pop Awards and a 2023 SONA Warrior Award, Tranter’s work has topped the charts while shaping and defining sounds of the past decade and beyond. Most recently, Tranter won “International Song Of The Year” at the 2025 Brit Awards for his work on Chappell Roan’s "Good Luck, Babe!" and received a “Songwriter Of The Year” nomination at this years’ iHeartRadio Music Awards. Most recently, Tranter was presented with MUSEXPO’s Global Songwriter Award for their continued success as a global hitmaker.

Tranter’s unparalleled creative fingerprint can be felt across music, film, TV and theater, as he’s lent his talents to some of the most iconic songs and albums in recent memory; Justin Bieber’s diamond-certified smash “Sorry,” Imagine Dragons and JID’s #1 single “Enemy,” Selena Gomez’s “Good For You” (featuring A$AP Rocky), Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” and “My Kink Is Karma,” Saweetie’s “NaNi,” Reneé Rapp’s "Pretty Girls" and "Gemini Moon,” Måneskin's "Honey! (Are U Coming?),” DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean,” Maroon 5’s “Cold, Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next (2019), Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia (2020), Lady Gaga’s Chromatica (2020), The Chicks’ Gaslighter (2020), Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation (2023), Gomez’s Rare (2020) and Bieber’s Purpose (2015). In addition, he has written regularly with some of the biggest names in music such as Cardi B, Jonas Brothers, Sam Smith, Kid Cudi, Janelle Monáe, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Cynthia Erivo, Leon Bridges, King Princess, Kim Petras, KATSEYE and more. Tranter co-created the heralded musical WILD: A Musical Becoming starring Idina Menzel, which was directed by Diane Paulus and written by V (formerly Eve Ensler). In addition to co-writing several original songs for Netflix’s runaway summer hit Purple Hearts (2022), he also served as executive music producer for Billy Porter’s brand-new directorial debut Anything’s Possible (2022) and served as the executive producer for the soundtrack to Happiest Season (2020), Hulu’s record-breaking holiday film. Tranter also executive produced and wrote more than 30 original songs for the Grease prequel series Rise of The Pink Ladies where he also had a starring role as the Angel of Fashion. Tranter was also the executive producer of the recently released A Very Jonas Christmas Movie, which features seven new Jonas Brothers songs.

Most recently, Tranter launched a new weekly video and audio podcast, Unfamous. Created and produced by Tranter, the series pulls back the curtain on how pop culture’s biggest moments actually get made. Each episode pairs a celebrity with their collaborator who helped build their defining work and lets audiences hear how it really happened — the ego deaths, the rewrites, the tension, the financial anxiety, the instinct and the trust required to make something that lasts.

His journey is also guided by the community he’s built and grown with Facet House, an inclusive home for publishing and artistry run by Tranter, who has devoted himself to numerous equal pay initiatives for songwriters as well as supporting singers/songwriters he believes in. Artists like Jake Wesley Rogers and Shea Diamond call Facet home, as do writers such as Skyler Stonestreet (“Boyfriend” by Dove Cameron), Blush (“What It Is” by Doechii) Russ Chell (“Rodeo” by Lil Nas X and Cardi B) and Jason Gill (“Never Really Over” by Katy Perry).

As a former board member of GLAAD and the ACLU of Southern California, Tranter is an outspoken supporter of human rights with a storied track record of fighting for change, inclusivity and diversity. Tranter’s activism work has been prolific and in 2019 he earned the prestigious ACLU Bill of Rights Award for his continued dedication to making meaningful change. Most recently, Tranter accepted the Equality Visibility Award at Los Angeles’ Equality Awards, celebrating his activism and continued work within the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I’ve always believed that music is one of the most powerful forms of visibility and connection. The LGBTQ community continues to inspire everything I do, and I’m deeply honored to be recognized by GMCLA while also celebrating Pride with them on stage,” shared Justin Tranter.

JOHN OTTMAN (Gala Honoree) is an American filmmaker, editor, composer, and producer renowned for an extraordinarily rare multi-hyphenate career. He stands as one of the few artists in cinematic history to routinely shoulder "triple duty" on major studio blockbusters, simultaneously serving as film editor, musical composer, and executive or co-producer to protect the creative integrity of the project.

A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Ottman first gained international acclaim for his groundbreaking work on the 1995 neo-noir classic The Usual Suspects, which earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Editing and a Saturn Award for Best Music. This launched a historic collaboration with director Bryan Singer, leading Ottman to edit, score, and produce massive franchise pillars and acclaimed dramas, including X2: X-Men United, Superman Returns, Valkyrie, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

In 2018, Ottman’s meticulous craftsmanship faced its ultimate test on the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Following the director's mid-production dismissal, Ottman uniquely stepped up to independently steer the film's complex post-production course without a director, salvaging and shaping the narrative into a global phenomenon. His extraordinary leadership earned him the Academy Award for Best Film Editing, a BAFTA, and an ACE Eddie Award.

Known widely as Hollywood's premier post-production "doctor," he recently executed a massive, seven-month narrative overhaul of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, steering the four-hour assembly cut into a streamlined, $703 million global box office triumph. Stepping back into the director’s chair, Ottman is currently helming Billy & Me, a biographical drama detailing the formative years of legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel.

“Cinema and music have always had the power to bring people together through empathy and storytelling,” shared John Ottman. The LGBTQ community has contributed immeasurably to that creative legacy, and I’m deeply honored to be recognized by GMCLA — an organization that continues to champion visibility, artistry and connection through the transformative power of music.”

JORDAN LUCAS (Gala Honoree) is a rising collegiate volleyball player at Cal State Northridge, known for his athleticism, competitive edge, and strong on-court presence. As a dedicatedstudent-athlete, Jordan brings discipline, consistency, and leadership to every match, making him a standout in the NCAA volleyball landscape.

Off the court, he is building a growing digital presence that authentically connects with a Gen Z audience through sports, lifestyle, and behind-the-scenes content. With a focus on performance, recovery, and personal growth, Jordan is well-positioned to partner with brands looking to align with emerging athletic talent and an engaged, sports-driven audience.

“Just seeing the overwhelming support has been kind of surreal. To see the whole world rally behind someone and a program really shows that progress is being made, especially within the LGBTQ community,” said Jordan Lucas in a recent CBSLA interview.

SAUNDER CHOI (Composer of Credo) is a Los Angeles-based Filipino-Chinese composer and choral artist. Winner of the 2024 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Raymond Brock Prize for professional composers, his works have been performed internationally by various groups including Conspirare, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony, World Youth Choir, Brightwork New Music, People Inside Electronics, and many others. As an arranger and orchestrator, Saunder has written for Tony-Award winner Lea Salonga, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Auburn Symphony, Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, etc.

As a choral artist, he sings with Pacific Chorale, L.A. Choral Lab, HEX Vocal Ensemble, as well as in film scores such as the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), Turning Red (2022), Nope (2022), Avatar: The Way of the Water (2022), etc.

Saunder believes in music as advocacy, using the media as a platform for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice. His compositions are focused on narratives and conversations surrounding immigration, racial justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, climate justice, and representations of his identity and roots. He is currently Director of Music at Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica and a teaching artist with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

BRIAN SONIA-WALLACE (Lyricist of Credo) is the Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. They are a poet, educator, and public artist whose work explores the line between the intimate and the monumental, reimagining public space as a site of memory, care, and dialogue. Over the past decade and a half, he has written poems on-the-spot in public for over 10,000 strangers and their communities, a practice that has unfolded into books including The Poetry of Strangers (HarperCollins) and Maze Mouth (Moon Tide Press), as well as performances and public projects across theaters, galleries, and everyday city spaces. A City of LA Master Artist and former Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, Sonia-Wallace has served as Poet-in-Residence for places as varied as the National Parks, Amtrak, and the Mall of America (yes, really). His work centers on creating art that bridges civic space, public memory, and lived experience, often collaborating with LGBTQ+ communities, youth, and elders to amplify voices that are rarely heard. A Fellow of the Academy of American Poets and LA County, his writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, LitHub, Rattle, and American Poets, and has been performed from Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Kennedy Center. He teaches at UCLA Extension, facilitates the APLA Health Writers’ Group, and leads school outreach for Get Lit – Words Ignite. More @rentpoet.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA)

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES, under the leadership of Executive Director & Producer Lou Spisto and Artistic Director Ernest H. Harrison, is in its 47th year of music and service. GMCLA continues to garner acclaim for artistic excellence while remaining deeply rooted in service to the Los Angeles community and beyond by promoting civil rights, tolerance, and acceptance through music. Founded in 1979 during the emergence of the gay rights movement, GMCLA has raised its collective voice in the movement toward equality, social justice, the AIDS crisis, the fight for marriage equality, and all those seeking to find their own voice. Critics have proclaimed the Chorus “inspired” and “expressive, innovative, and utterly moving,” and have hailed GMCLA for presenting “meaningful entertainment.” GMCLA’s free community concert program has provided access to concerts to thousands each year, and its innovative Alive Music Project has served over 100,000 high school students to date. GMCLA is delighted to return to Los Angeles’ historic Saban Theatre where our most recent season’s SugarPlum Fairies, Rhinestone Cowboys, and Dancing Queens were tremendously well received. The Chorus has performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Royce Hall, and the Alex Theatre, in addition to appearing at New York’s iconic Carnegie Hall, as well as touring throughout Europe, Russia, and South America. With these tours, as well as extensive presence on YouTube and social media, the Chorus has developed followers across the globe. To that end, in August 2026 GMCLA will embark on a European Tour. The Chorus is honored to be one of five ensembles invited to perform at events throughout World Pride Amsterdam, including a concert at the historic Concertgebouw. Following this exciting week, GMCLA will travel to the United Kingdom for several performances at the Actors Church in London’s Covent Garden.

For more information about GMCLA visit:

www.GMCLA.org

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