A CUPE member is a winner of an international prize for lesbian and gay music.
Michael Gfroerer, composer and pianist, won the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network’s Orfeo Musica Award for his work in creating music that focuses on lesbian, gay and trans identity and importance.
Gfroerer is a member of CUPE 2998, which represents community centre workers in Toronto.
While the award covers all kinds of music - everything from punk rock to opera - Gfroerer’s work is operatic in nature.
Pectus Amor, a set of songs based on ancient texts of same-sex love, has been performed on two continents and Gfroerer’s work has featured in documentary films and at pride event concerts. His compositions have been performed by some of Canada’s most celebrated classical musicians.
CUPE National paid Gfroerer’s expenses to attend the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
