Nov 13
Holiday shows will bridge eras for SF Gay Men’s Chorus
John Ferrannini READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will be celebrating the end of one era at the dawn of another with its annual holiday shows this December.
This year’s show will be the last with Chris Verdugo at the helm as CEO of the organization; a gay man who has led the nation’s first and oldest openly gay chorus for 10 years, Verdugo announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 season in June, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported.
“The holidays have always been a time when our music carries more than melody; it carries light,” Verdugo stated to the B.A.R. “Each concert reminds me how music can spark joy, heal hearts, and unite an entire community in hope. Knowing this will be my last holiday season as SFGMC’s CEO makes every performance feel even more special; a beautiful, bittersweet farewell to the tradition that has defined so much of my journey.”
Jacob Stensberg, a gay man who is the artistic director of the chorus, told the B.A.R. his team is grateful to Verdugo for his leadership.
“The organization has grown fivefold, and he has created a successful model for running an arts organization,” Stensberg said in a phone interview. “I can’t wait to see it continue to grow with a new executive partner.”
December will also have the last series of shows before the Castro Theatre – where the Christmas Eve SFGMC shows are traditionally held – reopens after an over $40 million restoration and renovation project. Since the theater was closed for the project, the December 24 shows have been held at the Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue.
Stensberg said that the Christmas Eve shows are 70-to-75-minute versions of the 90-minute Holiday Spectacular shows, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. December 24.
The Holiday Spectacular shows will be held at the Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor Street, at 7:30 p.m. December 12, and 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. December 13; at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. December 20; and at the Green Music Center, at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, 5 p.m. December 21.
Stensberg said he didn’t want to give away too many details about the show, but teased that “This one is a lot of pop music,” including hits from artists including Cher, Elton John and Lady Gaga.
“There’s something in it for everyone,” Stensberg said. “We also have beautiful slow music, romantic music, but it’s very pop heavy. We have amazing choreography and soloists and songs everyone will really love.”
The Golden Gate Theatre is a new venue for Holiday Spectacular , which had been held at the Sydney Goldstein Theater, at 275 Hayes Street.
“It’ll be an amazing experience for our singers to be on one of the most historic stages in San Francisco,” he said.
He’s nonetheless pleased about the return to the Castro for Christmas Eve 2026.
“We’re so excited for it [the Castro Theatre] to reopen in 2026,” Stensberg said. Stensberg also hopes that the concerts will help humanize the LGBTQ community in an era when hatred and fear have been on the ascendent.
“We believe, particularly in times that feel like societal darkness, our voices and hearts can shine a light on community, joy and healing,” Stensberg said. “We hope our audience experiences that same light and joy.”
