Setting the record straight on ‘Gary Holt and the Chorus’ (issue 137, Jan. 2)
Dear Editor,
Nicole Murray Ramirez has it wrong concerning Gary Holt as director of San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. Gary Holt was not the director who took the San Diego Men’s Chorus (Not GMCSD) to the White House at Christmas in 1997. Gary’s ego is beyond the moon if he is claiming he was the director at the White House. That position was held by the very accomplished Chris Allen, who is currently the outstanding director of the San Diego Women’s Chorus. Chris was also the director of the SDMC when they performed in the pregame show for Super Bowl XXXII. Gary Holt was the director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego until it and the San Diego Men’s Chorus merged. Nicole needs to get her facts right before publishing a fluff piece about Gary Holt.
ROBERT W. CROFT
Former proud member of San Diego Men’s Chorus under the direction of Chris Allen
Dear Editor,
I have never written to a newspaper to complain, but I’m so shocked about your misprint regarding Gary Holt’s resignation that I had to say something.
Chris Allen was the director of the San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) when they went to the White House and performed at the Super Bowl. When those events took place Gary was director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego. What an insult to Chris Allen, a very accomplished artist. Hopefully if Gary sees this article he will have the honesty to let you know this article is incorrect.
If you want to be known as a reputable news outlet someone needs to rescind this and reprint the truth.
JUSTIN BIERMANN
San Diego
(Editor’s note: In fairness to Gary Holt, the following comment was posted on LGBTweekly.com following publication of Nicole Murray Ramirez’s column.)
Dear Editor,
Nicole – a correction for the record: The Chorus performances at the White House and Super Bowl did not happen under my direction. Those two events took place before our two legacy choruses merged at the beginning of 2010. My friend and colleague Chris Allen was leading the San Diego Men’s Chorus at the time of those two events, while I was conducting the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego.
GARY HOLT
San Diego
