About Us
History of the GMEC
The General Motors Employees' Chorus has been performing and entertaining audiences in the Metro Detroit area for more than 79 years. It was organized in 1933 as one of the earliest employee activities within General Motors, but has been self-supporting since 1978. Less than one-half of the members are employed by, retired from, or spouses of GM employees. The rest of the membership is comprised of singers from many other communities in the Metro Detroit area.
The primary purpose of the GMEC is to bring joy to its audiences. Each year the chorus gives 20 to 25 concerts in churches, senior centers, and other venues. The chorus has performed with Grammy-winning vocalist Judy Collins in 1995 and 1999, and has also performed with the Southfield, Redford, Warren and Lake St. Clair symphonies, and the Warren Concert Band. The chorus has also sung for many civic, industrial and community groups throughout the years.
GMEC is a non-profit organization, and receives its operating funds from donations, member dues and free-will offerings from audiences.
Director: Amy Saari
Amy Saari has been conducting choirs ever since high school in Des Moines, Iowa, where she grew up. She earned her bachelor's degree in music from Grinnell College, where she served as an "emergency conductor" for two choir tours with the Grinnell Singers. She also received the Hill Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in voice, and the Steiner Award for Creativity in Music Composition. She earned two masters degrees in Choral Conducting and Composition at Bowling Green State University, where she was selected to participate in a conducting masterclass under Jerry Blackstone from the University of Michigan at the 2000 American Choral Directors Association regional convention. She was also the winner in the 33rd Annual Competition in Musical Performance, composition division, with her original piece "David" for two treble choruses and soloists. She also had two pieces for mixed and treble chorus selected for reading by the University of Iowa Kantorei at the Iowa Composers Forum festival in Iowa City, 2000. Since she came to Michigan she has served as choir director and soloist at the First Congregational Church in Rochester and ensemble singer at the Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak. She was also commissioned by the Congregational Church of Birmingham to write "Call to Isaiah" a choir anthem for the installation of their new pastor. Amy is also active as a songwriter, "idiosyncratic keyboardist" and vocalist in the Metro Detroit area. She now serves as artistic director of the General Motors Employees' Chorus.
Accompanist: Eric Miller
Eric Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Oakland University and a Master of Arts in Humanities from Central Michigan University. He has served as the Choir Director at Lincoln High School since 1981, and has also served in various music capacities at four Lutheran churches in the Detroit area: Our Savior (Detroit), St. Mark (Roseville), Salem Memorial (Detroit), and St. Paul (Grosse Point Farms), where he has been the Senior Choir director since 1994. Eric enjoys composing, arranging and playing professionally and besides playing the piano and organ is proficient on the trombone, cello and string bass.
Repertoire
Our programs consist mostly of 2-5 minute pieces, with styles ranging widely from sacred to secular, classical to popular. Our December concerts feature holiday-themed music, and our spring concerts feature a wide range of sacred and secular music, including musical medleys and patriotic songs. One of the styles we feature is popular music from the early 20th century, particularly the 30's through the 50's; examples include WWII songs such as "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" and Irving Berlin arrangements like "Easter Parade". We also enjoy doing oratorio movements by Handel and patriotic arrangements like "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the "Armed Forces Salute". We also have collaborated with instrumental ensembles to do pieces like the Faure Requiem, and we have been known to premiere new pieces on occasion.
Concerts
We perform about 20 concerts per year (ten in December, ten in April) in churches, senior centers, and other venues around the Metro Detroit area. The concerts are free, though we do accept freewill offerings from audience members. For some joint concerts, we may sell tickets. Please see our schedule for complete concert information.
Any churches, senior centers, schools or other venues interested in booking the GMEC may contact us for more information.
Our Non-Profit Status
Because GMEC is a 501(c)3 organization, we enjoy special tax benefits. As a singer, your vehicle mileage to and from rehearsals and performances are all tax deductible, so do keep records of your mileage to and from GMEC functions.
If you are a patron of GMEC, your donation is also tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, for those who itemize.