Seattle Men’s Chorus brings LGBTQ+ allyship program to MI students
Published 12:55 pm Thursday, May 7, 2026
Members of the Seattle Men’s Chorus delivered a powerful message of allyship for the LGBTQ+ community to Mercer Island students on May 5.
Along with joyfully raising their voices to the rafters of the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) Performing Arts Center during two assemblies that day, three of the men spoke to students about their experiences and how crucial it is to be an ally for others. The chorus also sang for sixth-graders at Islander Middle School that afternoon.
The LGBTQ+-identified chorus’ uplifting songs from its new “Wicked Wiz of Oz” concert included “Popular,” “For Good,” “Rainbowland,” “Brand New Day,” and a mashup of “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” with “Ease on Down the Road.” Attendees clapped along to the songs and cheered after each number. The tunes were backed by a pianist and a drummer, and some of the songs featured lead singers displaying their emotions at the front of the stage.
Seattle Men’s Chorus’ new pilot program uses music and storytelling “to tackle LGBTQ+ bullying at a time when 70% of queer youth report harassment,” according to a press release.
“I think it’s really important for queer kids to receive the message from non-queer kids who are accepting and supportive that they are accepted and supported,” said chorus Artistic Director Paul Caldwell after one of the MIHS assemblies. “We need to look at people and notice what they need from us in terms of support and acceptance and love.”
Chorus Executive Director Craig Coogan said it’s critical for the chorus to engage with the community, share its message and empower people while having a good time.
“We make music that makes a difference, and this is an embodiment of that where students are hearing they have a voice — whether they’re singers or not singers. They can save somebody’s life, and that is what we’re all about,” he said.
When it came to speaking time, chorus members Caldwell and Ashwin Karnik — who are both part of the LGBTQ+ community — and Adam Bird — who identifies as straight — shared some stories with the MIHS crowd in between songs.
Caldwell spoke of being bullied when he was in school and how a straight classmate took him aside, asked what was wrong and showed support for him.
Karnik said, in part, that a small moment of LGBTQ+ allyship can change more than one day in a person’s life and help them feel safer and breathe a little easier.
Bird said that he found the power to topple the walls of the beliefs he once held after his sister came out to him nearly 20 years prior. This led to a new start by joining the chorus where he’s found the “most loving, accepting and welcoming” people.
MIHS students respond
Following the second MIHS assembly, the Reporter spoke with students Phoebe Carr, RJ Annest, Cole Jones, Liv Hoefer and Mia Dong after they recorded a segment focused on LGBTQ+ allyship for the new c89.5 FM Nathan Hale High School student-hosted podcast, “Coping 101.” The episode will run on May 25 in advance of Pride Month.
The Reporter asked each MIHS student to relay the most important message they received from the program that they can bring into their lives and share with others.
Carr, a sophomore who identifies as queer: “I think the message was acceptance and just like small acts of letting people feel that around you. I feel that’s something that our school practices pretty well, but I think it was important to hear it from an outsider and just see that kind of come in and see how people reacted to that. I think it was a really important message, and I’m glad that we all got to experience that today.”
Annest, a senior who identifies as queer: “It’s important to show acts of kindness to people, especially when they’re struggling, and especially when they can be a target to bullying or harassment, whether it’s just a joke or if it’s people actually bothering them. I think it’s really important also that we got to hear it from somebody who’s outside of our community and someone who has the confidence to say it up on a stage in front of a large amount of people.”
Jones, a senior and straight LGBTQ+ ally: “I think it’s just so important to see and to realize how essential these small acts of kindness are, whether that’s standing up for someone or just even online, not even turning a blind eye to a comment. Just being able to step out and help someone that identifies as queer and be able to support them in any way you can, whether it’s a small act of kindness or giving them some time to just listen to them talk.”
Hoefer, a sophomore and straight LGBTQ+ ally: “I think the big message for me here was that you can — like with these things that happened at our school today and these performances — you can be able to gain that education to change your point of view on these topics, no matter what stage of your life you’re in. For me, I’m glad to have been introduced to a community where I was able to learn more about these topics.”
Dong, a freshman who identifies as bisexual: “I think just general acceptance and just being who you are right now is enough. You are just a part of this community of people that have this idea, and that’s all you need to be doing. You don’t have to look a certain way, act a certain way — love is love, you know?”
UPCOMING CONCERT
Seattle Men’s Chorus will perform “Wicked Wiz of Oz” at 8 p.m. May 9 at Benaroya Hall. For show and ticket information, visit www.seattlechoruses.org/2025/12/01/wicked-wiz-of-oz/
