S.O.S.

for people who are homeless or disadvantaged

by Ludmila Bordei, September 30, 2010

Singers of the Street (S.O.S.) is a new choir, a project of the Metropolitan Community
Foundation. “New singers are welcome at any time, rehearsals are every Wednesday 11 am -
1 pm located at the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco - 150 Eureka St. No
auditions or experience necessary. A free lunch will be provided to participants who attend
rehearsals,” – noted in the S.O.S. website: www.singersofthestreet.org.

The choir for everyone - especially for people who are homeless, unemployed, or
underprivileged - was created and is headed by conductor Dr. Kathleen McGuire.

The first rehearsal was held September 8, 2010, and the first performance took place on
September 24 at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran on Portola Street: Freedom Dreams presented
by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. A 200-strong audience warmly welcomed
the newcomers. The non-professional singers were so worried about the debut, but could not
hide their tears of joy and pride for themselves and for her new cheerleader, Kathleen, who
maternally wiped their tears, clutching her chest and realized that the debut of Singers of the
Street was successful. The Freedom Band, with 33 years of experience, accompanied the
choir beginners. At 10:30 pm the band continued to play their intimate melodies, and nobody
wanted to go home. The conductor of Freedom Band was also a woman: Jadine Louie. Her
confident and demanding gestures inspired musicians, singers of the choir, and the audience,
creating an atmosphere of calm and optimism, especially when they performed together the
song "Dry Your Tears, Afrika!"

During intermission, members of S.O.S. were each given a large package of gifts. A relaxed,
fun and friendly atmosphere was in the spacious halls of the church. Two women were
conductors: skillfully and professionally they guided and inspired people. Their gestures
were taken away in a magical world of feelings and emotions. The contagious cheerful smile
of the conductor Kathleen inspired artists before going on the stage, so that newcomer singers
lost all unfounded fears. After a successful performance, choristers excitedly told everyone:
" Kathleen also conducts a male choir of 200 men, and has served as the principal conductor
of the Oakland-based Community Women’s Orchestra since 2005,” - they related with pride.
I also fell in love with this energetic and charming woman- conductor of low stature and
strong constitution. I want to be like her: to be as strong, courageous and at the same time to
remain a pretty female. Watching online as Kathleen conducts, which is found on the
website www.kathleen-mcguire.com, I realized that Kathleen has a unique personality. Few
people at a young age achieve such impressive results, and do so much good for other people.
In her ten years at the podium of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, she has raised
$430,000 for Northern California charities.

In the fall of 2010, McGuire embarked on a new project in San Francisco as the founder
and artistic director of Singers of the Street (S.O.S.), a choir including people who are
homeless and disadvantaged, with a mission to sing for justice, healing, and joy.

On September 29, 2010, in Golden Gate Park at an event hosted by Project Homeless
Connect, San Francisco heard the second performance of the chorus Singers of the Street.
The performance began with the simple rhythmic Bambelela. Musical instruments including
claves, tambourine and gentle strokes of the triangle accompanied a powerful stream of bass
male bam-bam-bam-bam and melodic female soprano. When the conductor Kathleen instead
of baton took up the guitar, the sound of the songs gained a sincere bard style. Local
television, attending the festival in the park, recorded and showed the choir Singers of the
Street on channel 5 News.

The choir members were happy. They did not expect such success. Some viewers wanted to
sing in the choir, and promised to come to the next rehearsal.

I sincerely want to wish the new chorus of Singers of the Street victory and success and
more importantly, that they enjoy life, as they enjoyed it after their concert in the Golden
Gate Park. Conductor Kathleen was driving her car, when I together with choristers returned
home. Suddenly, I wanted to sing a Russian song "Katyusha". I asked Kathleen if I could
call her Katy. She agreed that her name Kathleen in Russian sounds unusual, but Katy
sounds good. Then everyone in the car began to sing songs from the movie The Sound of
Music and discussed that it would be nice to include these songs in the choir's repertoire.

- Ludmila Bordei, soprano, Singers of the Street (S.O.S.)