Tyler’s Suite / I Love the 90’s

Allendale UMC
May 16, 2025

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Meditation

Performed by the full chorus, the piece featured guest violinist KaleyAnna Raabe and pianist Kevin Wu. Raabe’s violin soared with aching lyricism, evoking a sense of longing and introspection, while Wu’s piano offered a gentle, grounding presence. Together with the chorus’s rich harmonies, the trio crafted a sonic landscape that captured the heartbreak and hope embodied in Tyler Clementi’s story.

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I Have Songs You Haven’t Heard

The solo in this piece was movingly performed by Jeremiah Cummings, whose heartfelt delivery gave voice to Tyler’s unspoken hopes and unrealized dreams. Cummings’ rich, expressive tone captured both the sorrow and the resilience embedded in the lyrics, inviting the audience to reflect deeply on the emotional weight of the message.

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A Wish

The chorus brought this movement to life with rich, nuanced vocal layers, conveying both the sorrow and the quiet beauty of a life that, though cut short, left an enduring mark. The ensemble’s unity and sensitivity made the music soar, echoing the unspoken emotions of so many parents and families who have experienced similar grief.

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The Unicycle Song

Bringing this touching solo to life was Cody Smith-Rollins, whose performance was at once gentle, heartfelt, and quietly powerful. With clear phrasing and emotional vulnerability, Smith-Rollings conveyed the conflicting emotions embedded in the piece—pride, confusion, sorrow, and a father’s unspoken love. His delivery gave the audience space to connect to the humanity behind the music, reflecting on the complicated, evolving nature of parental relationships and acceptance.

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Just A Boy

Cody Smith-Rollins stepped into the solo role with remarkable emotional clarity and sensitivity. His vocal performance captured the innocence and yearning embedded in Bucchino’s lyrics, painting a tender and tragic picture of a young man whose inner world was rich, hopeful, and vulnerable. Smith-Rollins’ interpretation resonated deeply with the audience, his voice both strong and fragile, creating a space of empathy and shared humanity.

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Brother, Because of You

The solo was movingly shared by Mark Hamilton and Gabriel Irizzary, whose duet brought the emotional complexity of the song vividly to life. Their voices—at times harmonious, at times contrasting—reflected the journey of grief and growth, embodying both the weight of sorrow and the light of remembrance. Their performance captured the honesty and rawness of a sibling relationship changed by tragedy, yet strengthened by resilience and reflection.

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The Tyler Show

In this performance, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay embraced the theatricality and poignancy of the piece with conviction and heart. Their voices captured the shifting tones of the song—bright, quirky, ironic, and ultimately, deeply sincere. In highlighting the idea that Tyler’s life was not just a tragedy, but a story filled with individuality and spirit, the chorus brought nuance and warmth to the narrative. The piece acted almost like a “show within a show,” reflecting on the performative aspects of youth, identity, and the masks we wear in search of acceptance and self-definition.

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I Love You More

Ruthie Nelson, stepping into the solo role, offered a deeply moving performance that channeled the voice of a mother remembering, mourning, and loving unconditionally. Her delivery was raw and restrained in all the right ways—never overstated, yet charged with emotional intensity. Every phrase was infused with the quiet desperation of a parent wishing they could turn back time, or simply have one more moment to say what was left unsaid.

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The Narrow Bridge

Gabriel Irizzary stepped into the soloist role with quiet strength and unwavering sincerity. His voice, warm and resonant, carried the weight of grief and the resolve of healing. Irizzary’s performance did not just convey lyrics—it communicated conviction, urging the audience to reflect, remember, and recommit to walking the “narrow bridge” together. His delivery struck a powerful balance between vulnerability and determination, making the final message of the suite deeply personal and universally resonant.

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Emotions

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay brought the house down with their vibrant harmonies, rhythmic precision, and infectious enthusiasm. From the opening chords, the audience was drawn into the electrifying groove, clapping along, swaying in their seats, and cheering on the chorus’s fearless vocal stylings. It was a moment of collective release—of sheer musical joy that radiated through the historic sanctuary.

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Believe

In this performance, Stephen Jennings fully embraced the song’s legacy with a dynamic and electrifying interpretation. With charisma, precision, and vocal flair, Jennings brought both vocal strength and theatrical confidence to the stage. His performance was not only vocally impressive—it was emotionally charged, embodying the triumphant spirit of the song while inviting the audience to revel in its infectious joy.

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It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay fully embraced the song’s over-the-top beauty, transforming it into a collective catharsis. Their voices swelled and soared in rich, multi-part harmony, channeling the passion of heartbreak and the power of remembrance. With impeccable dynamics and expressive phrasing, the chorus skillfully navigated the song’s sweeping arc—from quiet introspection to full-bodied power—and turned it into a communal experience of love lost, remembered, and relived.

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NOW That’s What We Call the 90s!

This medley wasn’t just a performance—it was a full-on musical time machine, transporting the audience through the soundscape of a decade that defined the MTV era, dance-floor bangers, pop rebellion, and the golden age of boy bands and girl power. Seamlessly blending 22 unforgettable hits, the medley celebrated the cultural tapestry of the ’90s while showcasing the vocal versatility and theatrical spirit of the chorus’s featured performers.

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I Believe I Can Fly

That’s exactly what happened during this performance. The trio of Cummings, Irizarry, and Smith-Rollins approached the piece not merely as a nostalgic throwback, but as a reclamation. Together, they transformed the song into a deeply personal and spiritual affirmation of hope, healing, and possibility. Their voices—distinct in tone yet seamlessly blended—brought a new level of meaning to the familiar lyrics, offering an interpretation rooted in dignity, empowerment, and grace.

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Bills, Bills, Bills

The Rainbros, a sub-group of the chorus known for their dynamic stage presence and tight ensemble work, brought fire and precision to the harmonies, backing up Yarosh with crisp vocal lines and synchronized movements that gave the number a polished, boy-band-meets-girl-group feel. The performance was as much about theatrical storytelling as it was about vocal delivery—turning the church sanctuary into a full-on ‘90s dance party, complete with struts, finger wags, and audience giggles.

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Un-Break My Heart

In this performance, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay reimagined the solo-driven classic as a powerful choral lament. With carefully blended harmonies and expressive phrasing, the ensemble gave voice to the universal experience of heartbreak—not only in love, but in life’s many forms of loss. Each phrase seemed to breathe, drawing the audience into a space of shared vulnerability and emotional release.

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Baby One More Time

Taking center stage, Kevin Beckett brought his own twist to the pop classic with a performance that was equal parts throwback and theatrical reinvention. Whether clad in a nod to the song’s original music video look or channeling the energy of a pop idol with confident flair, Beckett fully embodied the playful, lovesick drama of the song with tongue-in-cheek charm and vocal command. His performance radiated both homage and humor, inviting the audience into a shared moment of glittery nostalgia.

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Livin’ La Vida Loca

The chorus took this high-octane hit and ran with it—infusing it with bold vocals, theatrical flair, and a dose of tongue-in-cheek swagger. From the first blaring piano chords, the energy in Allendale United Methodist Church shifted into full celebration mode. With choreographed movement, bright expressions, and irresistible charisma, the ensemble turned the sanctuary into a dance club—equal parts Miami nightlife and Broadway revue.

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