Louisville's inclusive LGBT community choir has a new artistic director to usher the group into its 21st season. Jeff Burhman, who served as artistic director of the award-winning Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. for 14 years, will head up the choir's new season, which begins Sunday with open enrollment and rehearsals at Central Presbyterian Church (318 W. Kentucky St.), 3 p.m. Under Burhman's direction, the 275-member Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., performed at “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, which was broadcast on HBO, and at the nationally-televised Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Broadway composer Jerry Herman. An ensemble of choir members also performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and at the home of Vice President Joe Biden. The group also recorded 11 albums under his direction, including three original commissioned projects. Burhman started a youth outreach program for the Gay Men's Chorus providing free concert tickets to area high school students, in-school concerts and training for teachers and counselors. Burhman holds degrees in vocal performance and education, as well as a master of arts in counseling from George Washington University. VOICES of Kentuckiana was founded in 1994 as an inclusive choir to give LGBT singers and supportive others the opportunity to perform together in a non-competitive environment. The choir's annual "Holiday Magic" performance is December 6-7 at the Clifton Center.
