ABOUT

Queer Choir is an intergenerational and re-humanizing community choir for queer, trans and gender-expansive humans, singing into the growing movement for collective liberation. Queer Choir makes space for queers of all backgrounds to reclaim and rejoice in their body as instrument while leaning into the magic of harmony-singing as interdependence. There is no audition for Queer Choir, and we do not use SATB voicing.

Founded in September 2023 by Elias Wolf (formerly Lisa Forkish), Queer Choir has shared the stage with Be Steadwell and Katherine Goforth, and has performed at Eugene Pride, 4J Youth Pride and Sing the Body Queer Vocal Festival.

OUR SHARED ETHOS

Queerness defies singular definition. In that spirit, Queer Choir uses “queer” as a noun, adjective, and verb:

• We are a choir made up of queers (n.) – We belong to a larger constellation and lineage of outsiders, disruptors, and reinventors. Our identities resist conformity and contain fluidity, ambiguity, and becoming. No one must prove or label their queerness.

• We are a choir that is inherently queer (adj) in who we are, what we sing and how we show up – Our repertoire, relational ethic, pedagogy, and politics embody queerness. We use non-gendered voicing and non-canonical repertoire. We practice reciprocity over obligation, mutual care over martyrdom, and relational boundaries as clarity—not punishment.

• We are queering (v.) what it means to be in a community choir – We embody non-duality, multiplicity, and paradox. Our container can hold contradiction and complexity without false unity.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

FELICIA FIGUEROA-CARNINE

Felicia Figueroa-Carnine (They/Them) is a Queer NB Xicanx Indigenous Brujx.

They bring over three decades of musical experience, with music woven into the fabric of their life since childhood. Raised in a musical family, they began learning instruments at age 8 and were performing professionally by 14. By their early 20s, Felicia was immersed in over a decade of near-constant touring. From street corners to theaters, singing was the only language their heart knew.

After years of wild and beautiful chaos on the road, Felicia now calls Eugene, Oregon home, where they live with their wife, co-parent, and beloved 2.5-year-old child.

In recent years, Felicia has turned their focus toward community rooted music making by organizing through songleading, performing with the a cappella group Homophonic and playing locally with their current band.

Queerness, music, and queer community remain a deep source of liberation and resilience in Felicia’s life. They believe these are the spaces where we learn to hold one another fiercely and tenderly, creating room for authentic growth and connection.

May that growth continue to spiral outward.

ELIAS WOLF

elias wolf (they/them) is a genderqueer singer-songwriter, teacher, change-maker and musical spellcaster.

elias has been at the helm of 12 vocal groups over the past 20 years - including Queer Choir and HomoPhonic since moving to their hometown of Eugene, OR in 2022- and they continue to hold singing spaces with rigor, humor, and love.

elias is also an award-winning vocal arranger and their work has been showcased alongside Kehlani, Ben Harper, Pentatonix and the Oakland Symphony Chorus. From 2011-2020, elias was on faculty at Oakland School for the Arts where they founded and directed 5-time national champion high school a cappella group, Vocal Rush.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, elias has traveled the U.S. and Europe as a performer and educator, taking the stage at SF Jazz Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. As a solo artist, elias has released five albums of original music under their previous name, Lisa Forkish, as well as albums with collaborative projects HIVE, The Riveters and CAVALISA.

elias' ultimate aim in life is to use music as a vehicle for personal and collective healing and liberation, and they are grateful to be directing this magical choir of queers. You can explore elias' artist CV to learn more about elias' background, teaching experience, and training.

Assistant Music Director

Founder / Artistic Director

• Can I join Queer Choir if I don't have prior formal singing experience? Yes! All are welcome. Our 11-week choir cohorts move at a slightly quicker pace than a traditional song circle, but perhaps more spacious and varied in how we sing together than you would experience in a traditional western choir. Our rehearsals will include a combination of learning simple songs by ear, learning more complex arrangement with sheet music, and sometimes even improvising our own music. Practice tracks are always provided singers do not need to know how to read notated music.

• Is there an audition for Queer Choir? No, Queer Choir does not have an audition process in order to join.

• What COVID safety measures are in place? We will make room for airflow and use air filters as needed. Masks are optional, but may absolutely be worn as needed/desired. We take care of each other, so if you are feeling unwell, or know you've had exposure to COVID or other serious illness, please stay home.

• What accessibility measures are in places?

  • wheelchair-accessible

  • gender neutral bathrooms

  • bench seating for bodies of all kinds

  • choir part tracks as a learning resource

  • accessible parking

• What can I expect from a Queer Choir rehearsal? Our weekly structure is roughly outlined below.

  • opening grounding and vocal warm-ups

  • learning and polishing songs with instrumentation

  • learning a cappella songs

  • circle singing

  • closing song

• Does Queer Choir have an attendance policy? Our only attendance requirement is that all singers need to attend the very first rehearsal in order to participate in the cohort. If you cannot attend the first rehearsal, you will need to wait until the next cohort begins. Singers are encouraged to attend as many of the rehearsals as possible in the spirit of building a cohesive, connected choir for the duration, and we are trusting that we are all adults and are managing our very full lives to the best of our ability.

• Can I sing with Queer Choir if I'm not queer-identified? No, at this time our singing spaces are only open to those who identify as queer.

FAQs

GALLERY

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