Gary Miller

Who is Gary Miller?

Gary Miller is an American conductor, gay activist, and educator. Raised in York, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor of Music Education and from the University of Michigan with a Master of Music in choral conducting. In August 1980 he played an instrumental role in founding the New York City Gay Men's Chorus. He served as the NYCGMC's first director from 1980 to 1998. He later returned as director for one season in 2005. During his tenure the chorus notably became the first gay musical ensemble to receive a recording contract. He also commissioned 40 new choral works by numerous notable American composers. Under his baton, the chorus performed more than 50 concerts in Carnegie Hall and completed three European tours.

Under Miller's leadership the NYCGMC operated not only as a musical ensemble but as a political and social organization. In a 2005 interview in The New York Times Miller said of the chorus, "As gay men we wanted to make music for the education and enrichment of the community. It was to be equal parts music, social and political."