Iconique: Singing Out's Noah Witenoff on the power of collective queer voices

04 Jun 2025. by Drew Rowsome -Photos courtesy of Singing Out ; Noah Witenoff headshot by Matt Barnes

Every Pride, when a gay anthem, no matter how familiar or overplayed, booms over the loudspeakers, there is a rush of joy, goosebumps, and the irresistible need to sing along. Amplify that anthem by 130 enthusiastic voices in dynamic four part harmony, set it in the acoustically and visually splendid environs of Koerner Hall, and Singing Out's Iconique is set to sing its way into one's quivering queer core. "We’re performing songs by Madonna, Gloria Gaynor, Queen, kd lang, Robyn, David Bowie, RuPaul, and more. It’s going to be iconic in every sense of the word," says Noah Witenoff, Singing Out's president. "Performing to a sold-out crowd at Koerner Hall is such an incredible way to celebrate Pride. The acoustics are stunning, and it’s truly a dream venue. As my final term as President, this show is a beautiful capstone. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come."

Witenoff has been President since July 2023 and served on the Board of Directors since January 2021. "My role includes overseeing the general management of the choir, everything from strategic planning and operations to supporting the artistic staff and ensuring the choir remains a welcoming, inclusive space for all our members. I’m involved in most areas of the choir, from working with venues to helping plan music and member onboarding. I’ve even taken on design work for posters and programs, it's outside my official role, but I enjoy being hands-on and helping the choir shine." And shine it does, Singing Out has been an emotionally moving part of the AIDS Vigil and marched loudly in the Pride parade for the last two years. Surprisingly, Iconique is their first officially Pride affiliated event, though they will also be performing on Friday, June 27 at Nathan Phillips Square.

Iconique is an exciting step for Singing Out. "Our production team is doing a fantastic job putting everything together behind the scenes," says Witenoff. "Without giving too much away, let’s just say there are some fun visual surprises in store. Between the staging, movement, and energy of the performers, it’s going to be a vibrant and dynamic show. I’m really loving the choreography this term, it’s exciting to see choreographer Emilia Ballester’s choreography come to life on stage. I think audiences are going to be blown away by the energy and fun of the performance. It’s so rewarding to see it all come together on stage." It is a performance despite our communal claim on the songs. "We totally get the urge to sing along," says Witenoff, "these are iconic songs that mean a lot to so many people. But we invite the audience to enjoy the performance as listeners. Every piece has been arranged in four-part harmony and rehearsed with care over several months so that our singers can really shine. Letting the choir carry the music allows you to fully experience the richness and emotion of the performance. But we do promise it’ll still be hard not to dance in your seat."

Witenoff's experiences with Singing Out have been powerful. "Singing Out has completely changed my life. It reconnected me with my love for singing, I went from not even singing "Happy Birthday" to doing solos and belting out karaoke. More than that, it connected me to a whole new community. I've met so many incredible people from across Toronto’s queer community, and I’ve learned so much. I feel more grounded, more connected, and more proud of who I am. I was looking for a choir and saw a Facebook post from a friend of a friend about Singing Out. I reached out, and two things immediately stood out to me: it was a non- auditioned choir, and it was mixed-voice. I’d never sung in a choir before, and I hadn’t sung in public since I was 12, so it felt like the perfect low-pressure way to return to something I loved: singing." 

An experience all vocally inclined queer folx are invited to participate in. "Singing Out is incredibly welcoming," says Witenoff. "You don’t need to read music, some people do, but many don’t. We provide vocal tracks for every part, so you can learn by ear. Rehearsals are led by our fantastic artistic director, Jody Malone, and are structured to help everyone improve. We do perform off-book, but it all comes together in a supportive, joyful way. While we are non-auditioned, we do keep an eye on voice balance, so new members are admitted in a way that helps even out the sections. We’ve actually had a waitlist for the past few years. But we’re always open to new members each term, and everyone is welcome." Witenoff is a little more cagey when asked how cruisy the choral experience is. "Rehearsals are definitely fun . . " he says, "We sing a lot, we laugh a lot, and we work hard. But let’s just say, yes, a number of couples have met at Singing Out . . . So who knows what could happen."

For those of us who tend to tear up during potently rendered queer anthems, Witenoff says not to worry. "This term’s Pride show is filled with joy, so you may not need Kleenex. But hey, just in case, maybe keep one in your pocket." Witenoff himself has been moved transcendently performing with Singing Out. "The most unforgettable moment was performing with Hugh Jackman at Scotiabank Arena. Singing in front of twelve thousand plus cheering fans was absolutely electric. We performed three songs with him, and the energy, the crowd, and the sheer joy of the experience made it something I’ll never forget. It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of moment." At least until Iconique hits the stage. Not just incredible inspiring music but also jubilant activism. "To me, Singing Out’s mission is about joyfully representing the queer community through music," says Witenoff, "whether that’s through celebration, protest, education, or just shared experience. It’s about creating space, connection, and visibility. As for the future, I see us continuing to grow as a community, reaching new audiences, and always evolving while staying rooted in the power of collective queer voices."