Who We Are
Out Loud Chorus is a mixed LGBTQ+ choir from Washtenaw County in Michigan. This means that we are a chorus of people of all genders --- many of us identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender, although we are open to everyone who loves to sing and has an open mind. We are committed to putting on musically excellent shows that are entertaining and fun for our audiences.
Because we are a non-auditioned chorus (anyone can join), our rehearsals teach both the songs we will perform and vocal techniques to sing them well. Our only requirement to sing with the choir is that you are able to match pitch. We make mp3's of each part, so even people who don't read music can learn every note! There are also non-singing slots for people who want to support the chorus - there's fundraising, advertising, staging and lots more!
We love to make music and we love to have fun!
Out Loud Chorus was founded in October, 1995 by a group of dreamers as a mixed chorus for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding areas. Open to all, Out Loud Chorus is Washtenaw County's only arts organization for the entire LGBTQ+ community.
Each season, we produce shows for the general public. These productions are typically held on two successive weekend nights in both mid-January and mid-May. We are associated with GALA Choruses (https://galachoruses.org/) and attend their festivals as often as we can. For more information, email us at OutLoudChorus@gmail.com
Saleel Menon, Artistic Director
Saleel is a Doctoral candidate in Music Education at Michigan State University after receiving his Masters Degree in Choral Conducting and Music Education there in May 2022. He has a Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification from the University of Houston. Before moving to Michigan, Saleel was a choir director at Ridge Point High School in Houston, developing that program over five years. Choirs under Saleel’s direction earned consistent Superior ratings at the Texas University Interscholastic League Concert & Sightreading Contest. They performed both state and nationwide and opened for the Grammy-winning Pentatonix! As a performer, Saleel has sung with the Moores School Concert Chorale, Bach Society Houston, Cantare Houston, Coro Vocal Artists, and the Houston Symphony Chamber Singers both nationally and in Europe. Specializing in non-traditional choral pedagogy, Saleel co-authored an article published in the Music Education Journal on popular music in 2019 and presents at conferences on the topic. In 2020 Saleel received the Texas Choral Director’s Association Young Director of Distinction Award. He is active as a clinician, composer, and accompanist, and sings professionally.
Casey Baker, Accompanist
Casey is a native of Flushing, Michigan, and currently serves as staff pianist at U of M Ann Arbor for the music theatre department. He works throughout Southeast Michigan as a music director for theatres like the Dio, Encore Theatre, Flint Repertory Theatre, and Penny Seats Theatre. He has spent nine summers as the assistant music director and music director for the music theatre program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He served as Ass. MD for an episode of the new Disney TV Series Encore! Other works include coaching The Light in the Piazza at Grand Valley State University, Rodrigo with L’Aurora Nuovo, Falstaff and Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers at the University of Illinois Lyric Theater, and a world premiere of Ross Crean’s Great God Pan with Chicago Fringe Opera. Casey studied with Robert Byrens and Helen Marlais at Grand Valley State University, Julie Gunn and Cynthia Hayman-Coleman at The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and Scott Gilmore at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. While at CCPA he was an apprentice coach and pianist with Chicago Opera Theatre. Previous works include Cabildo, L'enfant et les sortilèges, CCPA; The Fairy Queen, Gianni Schicchi, Lucio Silla, Le Vin Herbé, The Perfect American, Chicago Opera Theatre.
Tamara Perkuhn
Tamara’s drumming career has spanned more than 30 years. She has played in bands of many genres including; big band swing, country, R&B, jazz, blues and rock. At 18 she was hired by the Continental Theatre Company and toured the U.S. for 6 months. Her early adult years were spent in the Kansas City area where she played with many local folk/rock musicians which led to her first studio experience in 1983. In 1989 Tamara left her home state of Kansas to train as an audio engineer at The Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts (aka Full Sail University) in Orlando, Florida. This career change brought her to Michigan where she worked in the recording industry for 10 years at Ron Rose Productions in Southfield, Michigan. She was also part of an all female R&B band, “Bonnie and the Working Girls” which played regularly in the Detroit metro area. More recently she played in a blues and rock band “Tracy Mack and the Magic Land Band” In November Tamara started a new project, an 8 piece, small band playing jazz, latin and pop tunes. She also plays for Metro Detroit’s “Sing Out Detroit” Choir.
