Making space for diverse voices
The Johannesburg Queer Chorus is a choir for greater Johannesburg’s LGBTQIA+ community and their friends. The chorus is open to people of all genders and sexual orientations who are looking for a choral community. In particular, JQC welcomes members who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual and/or genderqueer. We are a choir that strives for excellence in our performance and musical communication. We endeavour to create a friendly and empowering fellowship for our community through the power and journey of song.
The JQC was founded by Thomas Coggin, Ruth Coggin, and Guy Trangos. Thomas and Guy lived in Boston, Massachusetts while studying for a few years. Thomas became a member of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus and had an incredible time. Having always wanted to start a queer chorus in Johannesburg, Thomas felt more inspired than ever by his Boston experience.
When Thomas and Guy returned to Johannesburg in 2019, they imagined a similar chorus in Johannesburg. Thomas’s mother, Ruth, is an accomplished choral director, and she shared their vision of creating a choral space for the city’s queer community. Together, the three founded the Johannesburg Queer Chorus in early 2020. Rehearsals started in March 2020, and South Africa’s first COVID-19 lockdown was implemented within weeks.
Despite the challenges of the years that followed, the JQC expanded its membership, had special singing masks made and continued to sing. The JQC has grown from strength to strength and fostered a strong community. The dream of creating a chorus for Joburg’s LGBTQIA+ community who love singing was realised!
A ♯ organisation
The JQC was established as a non-profit organisation. We are guided by a Board of Directors and managed by a Member Committee. Both are comprised of volunteers who work to support our community in line with our constitution and various policies. We are an organisation founded on strong democratic and ethical principles.
Our Musical Director
FAYE PRINSLOO
She/Her
Faye is a conductor, accompanist, arranger, vocal performer, and musical educator working in a diverse array of musical genres in the greater Johannesburg and Pretoria area.
Faye attended the prestigious National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and then went on to study music at the University of Pretoria with a focus on classical piano and flute.
Faye found her passion for collaboration and ensemble work at a young age through performing in various orchestras, including as a flautist for the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Academy Orchestra, and South African National Youth Orchestra. This allowed her opportunities to perform in a myriad of festivals and attend workshops with a selection of celebrated local and international conductors. She is an avid instrumental performer and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with numerous respected artists, including Abdullah Ibrahim, Lira, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and Amanda Strydom, among others.
As an accompanist, Faye has graced the stages of many concerts and festivals, including Woordfees, Grahamstown Arts Festival, and Aardklop, while working and collaborating with copious choirs and conductors. Faye accompanied the Vox Chamber Choir (conducted by Franco Prinsloo) when they competed in and won a gold in Interkultur’s 2018 World Choir Games and became a finalist in the Anton Bruckner Choir Competition in Linz, Austria. She also premiered and recorded several albums, including Speak to Me (2018) and Naledi: An African Journey (2020) with Vox Chamber Choir, and Origins (2021) with Horizons Project Choir, respectively.
As a conductor and vocal trainer, Faye has worked with a diverse selection of youth choirs and universities taking part in various competitions. She also provides her services as a freelance workshop facilitator for high school choirs.
Faye enjoys working in the youth development sphere as a teacher, choir, and orchestra conductor for many schools and tertiary institutes in the Johannesburg and Pretoria area.
Our Accompanist
EUGENE JOUBERT
He/Him
Eugene Joubert is our Accompanist. He obtained a Master’s degree from Rice University in Houston. In 2007 he made his debut at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Other international performances include Switzerland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Serbia, the US and Denmark. An avid performer of chamber music and lieder, Joubert has performed for various Sempre Opera – and Big Wig Opera productions. He is currently head of Piano Studies at St Mary’s School in Waverley.
Our Member Committee
Our Board of Directors