Footage of online messages, live chats and video -- ALL SHOT ON JUNE 20, 2009 -- during the uprising against the voter fraud in Iran. Marc Platt's song "The Whole World's Watching," written for the occasion, provides the soundtrack. Video edited by Steve Schalchlin.

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True story from the life of a mother of an Army Captain in the Iraq war.

Music & Lyrics by Steve Schalchlin. Lyrics by Avril Roy-Smith. Performed by Steve Schalchlin at Kulak's Woodshed open mic. Monday, June 15, 2009.

Sing my songs!

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Marc Platt's "The Revolution Starts Right Here" illustrated using footage from the 2009 Iranian voter dispute protests. The uprising happened thanks, in large part, to online social networks.

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My friend Steve Schalchlin's cantata, "New World Waking" premiered last night, at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, sung by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Kathleen McGuire. It was a night none of us will soon forget. This video only catches a bit of the flavor of the evening.

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On November 28, 2008, the city of San Francisco remembered the lives of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. It was the day after the 30th anniversary of the assassination of both Moscone and Milk by then former Supervisor Dan White, which occurred on November 27, 1978. George Moscone is remembered as a mayor who supported the disenfranchised people of San Francisco and left a legacy of future politicians that have shaped both the city and the state of California. Harvey Milk was the first ever openly-gay person to be elected to a government position and is greatly remembered as a pioneer of gay rights in the 1970's.

The evening started out as a Memorial Concert and featured performances from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco and the GLAM Youth Choir, as well as speeches from the following individuals:

- Supervisor Tom Ammiano
- Jon Moscone, son of George Moscone
- Willie Brown
- Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk
- Carol Ruth Silver
- Harry Britt

The evening then progressed into a candlelight march from City Hall to the Castro neighborhood, specifically the location of 575 Castro Street, where Harvey Milk's Castro Camera store once presided in the 1970's. The march was led by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, who performed songs throughout the march.

The march was then followed by a gathering in front of the 575 Castro store front, where the following politicians spoke:

- Assemblyman Mark Leno
- Treasurer Jose Cisneros
- Supervisor Bevan Dufty

This video includes the following songs performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus during this Memorial Concert (in order of appearance):

- "My Thanksgiving Prayer" by Steve Schalchlin, arranged by Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
- "Amazing Grace"
- "Thou, Lord Our Refuge" by Felix Mendelssohn
- "If My Friends Could See Me Now" by Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields, arranged by Jon R Sims & Wayne Love, performed with the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band

"Thou, Lord Our Refuge" was sung by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus in front of City Hall on the night of the assassination of Moscone and Milk in 1978. That was the first night in which the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed publicly. Accordingly, this day marks the 30th anniversary of the birth of the choral group.

Video: Sean Chapin

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At the October 28th, 2008 rehearsal of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, composer Steve Schalchlin is invited to tell how the piece was written.

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