The Empty Closet

By Susan Jordan
An alleged gay bashing took place on Goodman St. at Monroe Ave. in the early hours of June 1, but when victims called police, they were the ones to be arrested, according to a June 6 item on Channel 8 News.

The Rochester Police Department has launched an internal investigation, and is seeking the alleged assailants. Jeff Briggs, president of Rochester Wealth Management, has offered a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of one or more attacker. Briggs said, “I can’t stand injustice and am willing to post a reward.”

A press conference was held on June 12 at City Hall. Mayor Bob Duffy announced that witnesses said two men and two women assaulted the eight victims (two of whom are U.S. Marines) between 2 and 3 a.m., making comments which clearly indicated that this was an anti-gay hate crime. “It was a vicious assault,” he said.

The FBI is also investigating the assault, as a hate crime. Duffy asked for help from the public. He added that the Police Department under Chief David Moore is seeking the assailants, and that internal affairs investigators will determine whether police response was inappropriate. No officers have been removed from regular patrol.

Three of the alleged victims have been charged with infractions including arguing with officers, and those charges still stand.

Duffy said, “Discrimination – whether based on race, religion or sexual orientation – will not be tolerated.” He asked that the public withhold judgment until all the facts are in. “This will not be swept under the carpet,” he said. “We have great communication with the gay community and don’t want to fracture that relationship… No one should question where we stand and what our tolerance level is. This is unacceptable.”

Duffy stated that police had identified independent witnesses and were interviewing them, and the police officers involved would be interviewed by the following week.

Several gay men and lesbians told Mike Malloy of Channel 8 News on June 6 that they were attacked by individuals who came from a porch or yard on Goodman St. The attackers allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs and used a metal rod as well as their fists and feet, hitting and kicking the victims, som of whom sought medical attention.

The victims called police, they said, only to be manhandled by certain officers, who arrested some of the victims themselves. The police officers refused to make a report on the assault and let the alleged attackers go free, according to victims interviewed by Channel 8 News reporter Mike Molloy.

One man said his toe was cut by a police officer’s knife, requiring three stitches, and he was slammed to the ground and then put into a police cruiser. One of the lesbian victims alleged that she had been repeatedly called a “drunken dyke” by a police officer.

At the June 12 press conference, Chief Moore said, “I am 100 percent committed to getting to the bottom of this situation. There is compelling evidence that a hate crime took place. We owe it to the community and to the officers to make sure we have diligent investigation. I want to make sure I do my part. I have put tremendous resources into the investigation.”

Twenty internal affairs investigators have been assigned to the case.

City Council President Lois Geiss and Council member Bill Pritchard have become involved. Bill Pritchard told the Empty Closet on June 7, “Lois Geiss and I were contacted by several of the victims and we spoke to both Mayor Duffy and Chief David Moore, and we remain in close contact with them. I have confidence that the Rochester Police Department’s investigation will uncover the facts. Obviously something went wrong, and the investigation will determine if there were inappropriate actions by police officers; if so, I believe appropriate steps will be taken.”

Pritchard said at the press conference that he has received many calls from gay constituents, expressing concern and fear. He said that the Mayor, the Chief and Officer Jim Hall are “the right people at the right time.”

Gay Alliance Executive Director Kris Hinesley said, “The City and the Gay Alliance are working together to address the incident and its impact on our community. We fully support the City’s efforts and in meeting with the mayor and his team were impressed by the full-out investigation they have launched. The incident is strengthening our partnership with the City.”

The Gay Alliance was represented at the June 12 press conference by Kris Hinesley, Board President Sue Cowell, Anti Violence Project Coordinator Alex Cobus, and Board member Tom Ferrarese.

Hinesley said that the Gay Alliance is very confident that the investigations will move promptly. She said, “We’re not here to pre-judge, but are here to be a watchdog for the gay community.” She said that the Gay Alliance is undertaking an investigation of its own.

There is a need for extra vigilence, for rapid reporting of problems to police and for a new level of education to be made available to police on dealing with hate crimes such as this one, she said.

Hinesley added that a rise in violence against lgbt people often takes place at times when gay rights, including marriage equality, are in the news, as was shown in Massachusetts during the marriage legalization process.

Alex Cobus said, “My role is working with the victims and witnesses. We (at the Gay Alliance Anti Violence Project) provide direct services. We look forward to continuing our work with the police department.” Cobus said that anyone with information or concerns about this or other hate crimes should call 911, contact Officer Hall, or call the AVP at 697-3373.

WASHINGTON, June 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reported this evening that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace’s departure from that post may be linked to his recent comments regarding lesbian and gay military personnel.  

According to Starr’s report, Pace’s comments, along with his role in planning the war in Iraq and his support for convicted Vice Presidential advisor I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, played key roles in Congressional opposition to Pace’s re-nomination. "His recent statements that he believed homosexual statements are immoral" presented a "significant problem" for Pace, according to Starr.
    

"Congressional leaders, in warning Secretary of Defense Gates that Pace’s remarks would be an obstacle to his confirmation, have sent a clear message that anti-gay prejudice has no place in public policy debates," said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "General Pace’s remarks are still fresh in the minds of lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel and were disrespectful to their commitment and service to our country.  Those who held General Pace responsible for his irresponsible remarks should be commended for taking a courageous stand in favor of our military personnel."
    
In a March interview with The Chicago Tribune, Pace said that "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts." He went on to reiterate his support for "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" by saying that "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way." SLDN demanded that General Pace apologize for his remarks, igniting a firestorm of controversy in the media.  Pace later acknowledged that he should not have given his personal opinion in the interview, but stopped short of issuing any apology.
    
Virginia Senators John Warner and James Webb, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Pace’s remarks.  On June 3, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) called Pace "flat wrong." Former Republican Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson also decried Pace’s remarks, noting that Allan Turing, a World War II mathematician who cracked the Nazi code, was gay.  "Would Pace call Turing immoral?" Simpson asked.
    
A group of seven high-ranking retired military officers also called on Pace to apologize, writing in a statement that, "Our community has a long history of serving our country in the armed forces. Today, there are more than 65,000 lesbian and gay troops on duty. Another one million gay and lesbian veterans, including the seven of us, have served in our fighting forces. General Pace’s remarks dishonor that service, as does the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law."

    Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and related forms of intolerance.  For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org.

By Kris Hinesley, Gay Alliance Executive Director
As many of you know, last Friday night there was a hate crime incident. The reports have been of great concern to the staff and board at the Gay Alliance.

Be assured that the Gay Alliance and its Anti-Violence Project are following the story and providing resources.  It is premature for us to make a public statement about the conduct of police involved, other than to say we will step in and advocate as needed if/when enough information is available to point us in that direction.  Until then, we are following the actions taken by City officials and have set up a direct link to up-to-date information inside City government.

We appreciate the many messages of support of the Gay Alliance and the victims, and call for patience and calm as we work with City officials to review the facts.

We will continue to make statements as more information is gathered. We stand by the LGBT members of our community as well as our allies. Our Anti-Violence Program addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.  To report anti-LGBT activity, suggestions or comments, call the AVP Coordinator or the Executive Director at 585-244-8640.

Antonio Agnone, a former officer in the United States Marine Corps who served with the 22nd Expeditionary Unit in Iraq, has issued a video statement condemning the Republican presidential candidates for expressing their support of the discriminatory Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy during the June 5 Republican presidential debate.
 
You can view Antonio’s response to the Republican presidential candidates here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Uz_hFS2PA

A little over a year ago, Agnone completed a tour of duty in Iraq where he led a platoon of men to seek out and destroy weaponry including IEDs – the insurgency weapon responsible for most of the casualties of American troops.  Despite his training and desire to continue serving his country, Agnone chose to end his military service in April because of Dont Ask, Dont Tell.”
 
Agnone will join other veterans on June 12 in Des Moines, Iowa to kick off the Human Rights Campaign’s national A Legacy of Service tour to repeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell. The tour will also feature former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American servicemember wounded in Iraq, and many other American heroes standing united and speaking out for the repeal of this discriminatory policy that continues to harm our nation’s security.
 
A transcript of Antonio Agnone’s video statement is below.

Hello, my name is Antonio Agnone. I’m a former officer in the United States Marine Corp.

Last night, the Republican candidates for President gathered together for a debate televised live to the world over CNN. They were asked on simple question – raise your hand if you support repealing the military’s Dont ask, Dont tell policy. Not a single hand went in the air.
 
A little over a year ago, I finished my tour of duty in Iraq where I led a platoon of men to seek out and destroy IEDs – the weapon responsible for most of the casualties of American troops. In April, I chose to end my military service because of Dont Ask, Dont Tell.
 
To Republican candidates, Dont Ask, Dont Tell clearly means an opportunity to score a few political points with an anti-gay base.To me, it meant the end of a career and a family legacy of service. To our country, it meant one less person on the battlefield doing his part to return America’s sons and daughters home safely.
 
Over 60,000 gay and lesbian Americans are currently serving on active duty around the world. It makes me think about the Arabic speaking gay soldier on the streets of Baghdad. What must he think when he hears a candidate running to be Commander in Chief calls his life a disruptive issue.
 
On Tuesday, June 12th in Iowa, I’ll join with other veterans to kick off the Human Rights Campaigns national tour to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The tour starts in the battleground state of Iowa - at the epicenter of Presidential politics. Because last night those candidates did more than just not raise their hands. They dishonored my service and the sacrifice of my brothers and sisters. And we’ll never forget.

WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Navy has again assigned an openly gay sailor to duty in the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), according to paperwork obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN).

Former Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, a Hebrew linguist recently deployed to Kuwait, has been placed on IRR duty until April 2009, despite publicly coming out in national media outlets and being told he would receive a "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" dismissal. Knight’s dismissal form, also called a DD-214, again lists his reason for dismissal as “Completion of Service,” and places him in the IRR. The classification allows him to again be called to active duty, as he was in 2006 after completing a four-year enlistment in the Navy. Knight has now served openly during two tours with the Navy, with the support of his command and colleagues.

"It’s a very pleasant, and unexpected, surprise to learn that the Navy so values Jason’s service that they have again assigned him to the Individual Ready Reserves, despite his very public advocacy as an openly gay man," Steve
Ralls, director of communications for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), told the military newspaper Stars & Stripes in a statement. "There are clearly many people inside the armed forces who couldn’t care less about sexual orientation.  In fact, our national security would be far better served if more commands elected to so visibly support their gay troops. The Navy has welcomed Jason Knight not once, not twice, but now a third time, and he has always answered the call to duty. His story proves there is no room to question the patriotism, dedication and commitment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans."

Knight captured national attention in May when he revealed, also in Stars & Stripes, that he accepted a call-back to active duty and deployed to the Middle East, where he served openly, despite the military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. Knight had also been out to his first Navy command. That command also dismissed Knight for completion of service, despite knowing about his sexual orientation, and also assigned him to the IRR. That assignment led to his second tour in the Navy.

"I have been nothing but proud of my service in the Navy, and I’m ready to serve in the Individual Ready Reserves and to return to active duty if called," Knight said.  "I was expecting to be dismissed under ‘Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell,’ but am ready, willing and able to continue my service to the Navy if I am needed. My sexual orientation has never been an issue for my command or my colleagues; it should not be an issue for my country, either."

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell’ and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote this Thursday on the nomination of former Mississippi Court of Appeals judge Leslie Southwick to a seat on the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Ralph G. Neas, president of People For the American Way, cited Southwick’s troubling record on the rights of African Americans, gays and lesbians, and workers, and today urged Democratic and Republican Senators to come out forcefully against the nomination prior to the vote.
 
He made the following statement:
 
“Leslie Southwick upheld the reinstatement with back pay of a white worker after she had been fired for using the single most offensive racial epithet, calling a black colleague a ‘good ole nigger.’ In the wake of heightened racial sensitivity engendered by the Don Imus imbroglio, it’s amazing that there is so little outrage over the unbelievably insensitive position taken by a nominee for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.”
 
“In another case, he agreed that an eight-year-old girl could be taken away from her birth mother, in large part because the mother was living with another woman in a ‘lesbian home.’ Southwick went even further, joining a gratuitously anti-gay concurrence suggesting that he believes sexual orientation is a ‘choice,’ and that one legally acceptable consequence of that ‘choice’ is losing one’s child.”
 
“Today we read that Senator Barack Obama is opposing the nomination. Bravo. My question is, why is Senator Obama’s voice the only senatorial voice we have heard? I urge other senators to come out forcefully today to object to this nomination, and to urge their Republican and Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to reject it.
 
“Last November, the American people voted for change. Change does not include rubber-stamping George W. Bush’s federal court nominees, and giving them lifetime seats on the federal bench. In fact, that’s one way to ensure that the legacy of the Bush administration far outlasts his term. Elections matter.”
 
The nomination is opposed by a coalition of civil rights organizations. Read PFAW’s letter of opposition here <http://media.pfaw.org/05-30-07_Southwick_Letter.pdf> ; the Magnolia Bar Association’s letter of opposition here <http://media.pfaw.org/Magnolia_Bar.pdf> ; and the Human Rights Campaign letter of opposition here <http://media.pfaw.org/HRC_letter.pdf> .
 

When asked during the June 5 debate by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to raise their hand if they support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, not a single Republican candidate’s hand went up in the air.  The position of every single Republican candidate on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” not only stands in stark contrast to the unified support of repeal by all Democratic Presidential candidates but it is also out of step with the majority of the American people, the Human Rights Campaign said.

“America’s national security was sacrificed tonight in the name of divisive political maneuvering,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Every single Republican candidate for President just looked the American people in the eye and voiced their support for a policy that is more concerned about the sexual orientation of an Arabic linguist than it is our military’s ability to decode the next piece of intelligence from terrorist groups.”
 
“I hope tonight’s debate wasn’t aired over the Armed Forces Network, because otherwise over 60,000 gay and lesbian troops on active duty just heard a message of dishonor. For these candidates running to be the next Commander in Chief to dishonor the service of men and women standing on the streets of Baghdad and serving around the globe is shameful,” said Eric Alva, National Spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign and the first U.S. troop wounded in the Iraq War.
 
On March 12, 2007, USA Today reported, "Polls indicate growing acceptance of gay troops. A Harris Poll this month found that 55 percent supported allowing gays to serve openly, up from 48 percent in 2000. A Pew Research Center survey last year found that 60 percent favored gays serving openly, up from 52 percent in 1994. Support ran 3-to-1 among those younger than 30.

”The American people have moved forward. Unfortunately, the GOP candidates for President have not,” continued Solmonese. “Apparently, the GOP presidential candidates have decided to ally themselves with the extreme views of the right wing, instead of the vast majority of Americans. Not a single hand raised tonight spoke volumes about their willingness to discriminate against gay and lesbian servicemembers.”
 
During tonight’s New Hampshire debate aired on CNN, none of the Republican candidates for President supported repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law that prevents gay and lesbian Americans from serving openly in the military.

Mitt Romney actually supported repeal of DADT in 1994 but switched his position tonight. Ironically, Senator John McCain stated that while the U.S has a great military, "there aren’t enough of them." Although he went on to state his willingness to kick out gay and lesbian Americans wanting to serve.

By Josh
(This was one of the poems read aloud at the Day of Silence rally on April 18, 2007)

Faggot
Shocking isn’t it
How a word
That’s in most 12 year olds
Everyday vocabulary
Can carry the weight of a thousand worlds
And yet
We say nothing!
No form of correction
For the utterance of my “F” word-
Yes my “F” word, I’ll claim it
Since it’s what you’ve been giving to me
Even before my personal acceptance of self
And yet this “F” word
Has no sponsor
No creator
No opposition either
Cause when I hear faggot
Screamed from cars
Or while walking down the halls
I am seemingly alone
Nobody wants to jump to the aid
Of the gay kid
Cause they don’t want people to start
Thinking
Wondering
Questioning their sexuality
So they just stay away
But only because they don’t know
What it’s like to receive this “F” word
And yet
This 6 letter “F” word will somehow
Follow me-
For life
Forever trapping me in a box of self defense
And constant struggles with bigotry
While the sound of my “F” word
Will resound, without remorse, internally
Until the next kid
Decides it will be fun to run around screaming,
“Attention all faggots
Attention all faggots
You will burn in hell!”
Amazing isn’t it
How a 12 year old learns that this is somehow okay
That the degradation of another
Is perfectly acceptable in today’s society
Shocking isn’t it
How people’s view reflect their communities
Until it goes to far
Like the day Matthew Shepard
Was beaten, tied to a fence
And left to die on a hill
Just for being a faggot
And it was okay to hate him
Until it went to far
Or how’d the people of Laramie, Wyoming say it
“We don’t raise fag killers here.”
Well newsflash to the people of Laramie Wyoming
You did raise people like that there
Cause those boys first learned
At 12 years old
That it was acceptable to call someone a faggot
Because no one stepped up
And it was okay to hate people like that
Because no one ever said it was wrong
It’s crazy
How something
So seemingly small
Can grow to such
Large proportions
Cause every time they screamed from cars
Or while I walked down the hall
They a learned a lesson of tolerance
Of defamation
Because no one stepped up and said
That it was wrong
Faggot
Think about it
The only reason that word thrives
Is because of us
Faggot
And I am willing to bet my life
That the thought had never even crossed your mind
That this 6 letter “F” word
Is the reason that people have died
Because growing up it was fine
To throw faggot here and faggot there
And everyone you disliked was a fucking faggot
Cause it somehow made them less of a person
And yet
Here I stand
Captivating your attention with nothing more than words
And after years of being called a faggot
I am no less of a man
Faggot
Shocking isn’t it.

Davis Mac-Iyalla will be speaking in Rochester on June 22 at 7 pm, at St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene Episcopal Church, 17 South Fitzhugh St. Mac-Iyalla is the Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria, a witness of gay and lesbian Anglicans in Nigeria.

Mac-Iyalla made headlines in 2005,including the New York Times and the Times of London, for organizing the first support group for gay and lesbian Anglicans in Nigeria. He has been a target of Archbishop Peter Akinola’s wrath ever since.

Akinola is a leading proponent of a draconian bill in the Nigerian Parliament that would provide five years imprisonment to anyone who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex," helps or supports a same sex marriage, or "is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private."

Since founding the organization in 2005, Davis has been repeatedly denounced by the Anglican Church of Nigeria and has received several death threats. Davis was forced to flee Nigeria and now lives in exile elsewhere in Africa. Nevertheless, Mac-Iyalla traveled to a meeting of Anglican archbishops in Tanzania in February, walked up to Akinola, and offered his hand.

Davis is traveling across the United States this summer to tell his story. Mac-Iyalla’s local visit is co-sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester’s Committee for Gay & Lesbian Ministry (www.edr-cglm.info) and the Leadings Institute for Spiritual Formation & Leadership Development (www.leadingsrochester.org).  An offering will be taken during the speaking engagement to support the ministry of Changing Attitude Nigeria.

For more info, contact John Clinton Bradley at 585-242-7687 or johnclint@gmail.com.

By John Owen
Nick Williams, founding member and Music Director of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus has announced his resignation from the position, effective the close of the June 16 DIVA Nation! concert. Williams informed the Chorus of his decision at the end of the spring rehearsal retreat at Lake Avenue Baptist Church on May 12.

In making his announcement, Williams said, “Looking at my life and my energy level at the current time, I find it increasingly difficult to do all the things I have to do. As much as I love RGMC, it was something I had to give up to maintain my quality of life. This was not an easy decision as my life and soul have been given to RGMC. Although I’m leaving the directorship, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to leave RGMC. It is engrained into the very core and fiber of my being.”

Chorines, members of the Board of Directors and the Staff were greatly saddened to hear Williams’ decision.

Board member Todd Perkins said, “Nick Williams is a true music professional with dignity class, and a great sense of humor. I will truly miss him.”

Business Manager Jim Janssen said, “In my nine year career with the Chorus, Nick has always been available to answer questions, solve problems and listen, to both business and personal issues. His vast knowledge of the Chorus and life in general created a support role, a figure to look up to. His absence will be greatly noticed by many and missed by all.”

Second Tenor Section Leader Jim Costich said, “Nick Williams’ title is ‘Music Director’ but that says so little about what he gives us. He is an incredible vocal coach and teacher who developed each of our voices and then shaped them together to create a sound unique to the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus. You can pick us out from other men’s choruses that are the same size, thus giving us an identity and our own sound. It’s a sound that other choruses tell us they envy.  He is a prolific arranger. I doubt our audience realizes that most of what we perform are his arrangements. I doubt any one of us could name all the ways he’s given to us, and the community, a voice. Now he’ll get a chance to sit in the audience, and we’ll get the honor of singing for him. I think that will be a great day.”

Williams has continually nurtured and encouraged untrained voices to learn how to sing. And the result has been one of the best medium sized gay men’s choruses in all of North America.

He said, “All people have an ability to sing. Everyone also has the ability to improve their voice. The problem is we don’t know how to do this. It is through giving members the correct tools to monitor and evaluate their own voice that one allows the singer to improve and explore their own singing potential.”

Williams and four others founded the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus in a living room in November 1983. David Knoll, second tenor, was with Nick at that first rehearsal. Little did they realize that over the next 24 years, RGMC would grow to become the Voice of Pride in Rochester.

Through Williams’ efforts the RGMC became involved in the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) and for one three year period he served on the national GALA Board of Directors. He was instrumental in bringing one of the first annual GALA Leadership Conferences to Rochester.

And Williams has taken the men of RGMC on the road. Just a few of the cities the Chorus has visited to make beautiful music are Buffalo, Syracuse, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Seattle, Vancouver, Tampa Bay and Montreal. Everywhere the Chorus has traveled they have served as superb good will ambassadors for the greater Rochester community, in no small part thanks to his excellent musical training.

He enthusiastically embraced the creation of a small dance ensemble and from the beginning was a prominent member of the Rochettes. Chorus audiences have seen all 6’ 5” of him tap dancing and sporting stiletto heals and gaudy hats as he anchored the group.

“I love to perform. And where else can you perform and get a good physical workout! As I age, I find the need for aerobic activity increases. The Rochettes has been a great way to combine performance with exercise. If we could all be so lucky to be able to have such outlets! And don’t worry; I’ll be back dancing in a year or so!”

DIVA Nation! on June 16 at Hochstein will be the last opportunity the Rochester community has to formally say, “Thank you Nick for all your good work,” and “best wishes as you enter a new phase of your life.”

A search for a new Music Director has begun.