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Our cherished Artistic Director, Mary McCarty, is retiring at the end of June 2026. Since joining the Portland Lesbian Choir in 2015, Ms. McCarty has played a transformative role in shaping the Choir&rsquo;s artistic identity and expanding its reach within the Portland arts community and beyond. Under her direction, PLC has presented an ambitious and moving repertoire, fostered a welcoming and affirming space for singers and audiences alike, and strengthened its mission of building community, celebrating LGBTQ+ voices, and advancing social justice through music.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mary&rsquo;s leadership has been defined by creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to our community,&rdquo; said Toni Jaffe, Board President. &ldquo;Her artistic vision and steady guidance have helped the Portland Lesbian Choir grow artistically and organizationally, and her impact will be felt for many years to come.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mary was the glue that kept the choir together during Covid. &nbsp;When many other choirs disbanded, she creatively pivoted to virtual concerts and PLC kept singing out! After the pandemic, under her leadership, PLC&rsquo;s growth and development has been phenomenal:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="disc"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">from 80 singers [in 2018] to 165 singers currently, with a waiting list of of 100 singers</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">from small audiences of 350 to sold out performances 2,200 per season</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">the creation of Resonate, a capella ensemble group of 12, always spot on with close harmonies and unforgettable performances</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">outreach to Coffee Creek Prison, Astoria Q Center, and performing at The Grotto Festival of Lights, and for local sports events at the Hillsboro Hops and Portland Winterhawks games</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">ensuring Our Black Lives Music Pledge has made it possible to bring forth music from BIPOC populations.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;Above all, Mary McCarty has been the creative musical genius that inspires and delights us. Her leadership of rehearsals and live shows over the past 11 years has steadfastly guided and ensured that our performances were cohesive, expressive, memorable, deeply meaningful and joyous.&nbsp;

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for honoring our beloved Artistic Director, Mary McCarty. &nbsp;Her outstanding artistic vision and steady guidance helped the Portland Lesbian Choir grow artistically and organizationally, and her impact will be felt for many years to come. Your generous gift will ensure that her legacy&#39;s profound influence is celebrated, sustained, and etched in our hearts. With our deep gratitude,Portland Lesbian Choir P.S. If you have any questions or thoughts to share, please contact Hayley Andrews at executivedirector@plchoir.org

Our cherished Artistic Director, Mary McCarty, is retiring at the end of June 2026. Since joining the Portland Lesbian Choir in 2015, Ms. McCarty has played a transformative role in shaping the Choir’s artistic identity and expanding its reach within the Portland arts community and beyond. Under her direction, PLC has presented an ambitious and moving repertoire, fostered a welcoming and affirming space for singers and audiences alike, and strengthened its mission of building community, celebrating LGBTQ+ voices, and advancing social justice through music. “Mary’s leadership has been defined by creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to our community,” said Toni Jaffe, Board President. “Her artistic vision and steady guidance have helped the Portland Lesbian Choir grow artistically and organizationally, and her impact will be felt for many years to come.”  Mary was the glue that kept the choir together during Covid.  When many other choirs disbanded, she creatively pivoted to virtual concerts and PLC kept singing out! After the pandemic, under her leadership, PLC’s growth and development has been phenomenal: <ul><li>from 80 singers [in 2018] to 165 singers currently, with a waiting list of of 100 singers</li><li>from small audiences of 350 to sold out performances 2,200 per season</li><li>the creation of Resonate, a capella ensemble group of 12, always spot on with close harmonies and unforgettable performances</li><li>outreach to Coffee Creek Prison, Astoria Q Center, and performing at The Grotto Festival of Lights, and for local sports events at the Hillsboro Hops and Portland Winterhawks games</li><li>ensuring Our Black Lives Music Pledge has made it possible to bring forth music from BIPOC populations. </li></ul> Above all, Mary McCarty has been the creative musical genius that inspires and delights us. Her leadership of rehearsals and live shows over the past 11 years has steadfastly guided and ensured that our performances were cohesive, expressive, memorable, deeply meaningful and joyous.

Mary McCarty: a Living Legend

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Portland Lesbian Choir

Mary McCarty: a Living Legend

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