(Photo by Todd Franson, Metro Weekly)
Distinguished Service Award to Theodore Guerrant
Presented by GLAA Treasurer Gary Collins
GLAA 40th Anniversary ReceptionWashington Plaza Hotel
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Our next honoree is often near center stage, yet is a master at unobtrusiveness. He is a virtuosic and versatile performer who usually contents himself with ably supporting others. He is Theodore “Dr. Teddy” Guerrant, who has been accompanist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington since 1983. That makes him the longest-running accompanist in the gay and lesbian choral movement.
A native of Georgia, his first public performance was on Atlanta television at age four. By the time he was a high school senior he accompanied five choral groups weekly and played five church services every Sunday. His five degrees in keyboard performance include one in organ from the Peabody Conservatory. He also studied piano in England with Denise Lassimonne.
In addition to GMCW, Dr. Guerrant is accompanist for the Central Maryland Chorale and National Philharmonic Chorale at Strathmore Music Center. He is Associate Organist at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hyattsville, Organist-Choirmaster at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in D.C., and a coach-accompanist at the University of Maryland School of Music in College Park, MD. He holds memberships in several musical organizations, and resides in a 110 year old house in the historic district of Laurel, MD with four of his nine keyboard instruments and several chiming clocks. On top of all that, he does hilarious parodies of southern church organ ladies and of Liberace. His interests range widely from metaphysics to musclemen.
Teddy’s relationship with the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington began as co-accompanist with his dear friend, the late Jim Holloway, who went on to become Artistic Director. Teddy states, “After only our first rehearsal we were both 'hooked' and rarely ever missed a rehearsal or a performance thereafter.... Through all these years we moved through every possible human emotion from anger, sadness, and wonder to the present feeling that our work makes a significant difference in gay rights movements everywhere.... We sing our songs in response to the lives and feelings of gay men and women struggling for acceptance at society's table.”
Teddy quotes Madame Rosina Lhevinne, "We who are in the field of music have a special responsibility in the quest for humanity. Music is the one language which can transcend those boundaries by which men continue to divide themselves."
No one in town is more devoted to music’s capacity to change hearts, or more skilled at making it happen. It is my privilege to present GLAA’s Distinguished Service Award to Theodore Guerrant.
