Local
Acclaimed Kennedy Center musician dies at 52
Donald Shore battled brain cancer
Donald Shore (Photo by David Peiffer, used with permission)
Donald A. Shore, a nationally acclaimed bassoon player with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra for 30 years and a supporter of charitable events for D.C.’s gay community, died Oct. 9 at his home in Washington following a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. He was 52.
During his long tenure with the Kennedy Center opera orchestra, for which he held the title of Principal Bassoon, Shore collaborated with luminaries of the opera world, including Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Kiri te Kanawa, and Denyce Graves, according to his friend and colleague, bassoonist Chris Jewell.
In a biographical write-up, Jewell said Shore also worked with some of the world’s most prestigious ballet companies, including the Bolshoi, Kirov, Paris, Joffrey and Royal Ballets in the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra’s dual role of playing for ballet performances.
In addition, he played during performances of the American Ballet Theater and the Dance Theater of Harlem,” Jewell said.
“As a member of the orchestra he performed at the White House, toured Japan, and played for the Kennedy Center Honors as well as numerous musicals and chamber music performances on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage,” Jewell said in his write-up.
Jewell said Shore’s playing spanned both classical and popular music, ranging from the orchestra’s performance of the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante under the direction of Maestro Heinz Fricke to a solo performance in a routine with comedian Steve Martin at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
A lifelong resident of the D.C. area, Shore was born Nov. 30, 1961 to Kitty Murray Shore and Francis Marion Shore Jr. He was a graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and studied with National Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Linda Harwell, Jewell said in his write-up.
Shore attended the University of Maryland and the Peabody Conservatory before transferring to the University of Toronto, where he studied bassoon and received a bachelor of music degree, according to Jewell.
He became recognized as an up-and-coming star bassoonist in 1984 when he was chosen as a winner of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloists’ Competition. That same year Shore won his position in the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra at the age of 23.
In addition to his skills as a bassoonist Shore was also a talented vocalist and pianist, Jewell said.
Friends said Shore was involved in D.C.’s gay leather community and contributed regularly to charitable fundraisers organized by local leather groups such as the annual Dusty Cunningham Picnic Basket Auction. He also enjoyed attending leather events in other cities, including New York, Montreal, New Orleans and Chicago.
Jewell said Shore’s favorite time of the year was Christmas, when he loved to decorate a live tree – usually the tallest one he could find.
“Donald Shore touched many people deeply with his kindness, generosity, superb (and bawdy) wit, and unparalleled Musicianship,” Jewell said in his write-up.
“I am very sad about the news that Donald Shore has passed away,” said Placido Domingo in a statement.
Domingo served from 1996 to 2011 as artistic director and later general director of the Washington National Opera.
“Our principal bassoonist was a great artist with whom I talked very often during our rehearsals and performances,” Domingo said. “I remember being told some months ago about his operations and, now to learn that he has lost his battle. Please convey to his family and to the orchestra my sincerest condolences for this terrible loss.”
Survivors include his companions of nine years, David Peiffer and Arnold Mixon, of Washington; close friends Chris Jewell of Burke, Va., and Richard Thibadeau of Washington; two brothers, Tony Shore of Chevy Chase, Md., and Francis Shore III of Fort Myers, Fla.; and two sisters, Lynne Grace of Eastbourne, England; and KC Shore.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Kennedy Center Atrium, roof-level Terrace Gallery, on Monday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.
Donald Shore, on right, with internationally acclaimed opera singer Placido Domingo. (Photo by David Peiffer, used with permission)
Maryland
Parents sue Anne Arundel schools, allege officials hid child’s gender transition
America First legal Foundation filed lawsuit on July 8
By CODY BOTELER | Two parents, backed by a conservative nonprofit group, are suing Anne Arundel County Public Schools over the school system’s policies related to transgender children.
The suit, filed Wednesday in Maryland’s U.S. District Court, accuses staff at an unidentified county high school of lying to the parents, identified as John Doe and Jane Doe, about their child, identified as Mary Doe.
The Does allege the school “socially transitioned” their child without notice or their consent by using a masculine name and masculine pronouns for Mary Doe.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
Campaign launched to elect more LGBTQ candidates to ANC seats
Capital Stonewall Democrats behind Queering ANCs effort
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in currently having 46 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions consisting of 345 single-member districts in neighborhoods throughout the city in which unpaid Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are elected for two-year terms.
The commissions are charged with considering a wide range of policies and programs impacting their neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and D.C.’s annual budget, according to the ANC website.
Although the ANCs do not have authority to set or reject policies or proposals, such as applications for liquor licenses, city agencies are required to give “great weight” to ANC recommendations, according to the law creating the ANCs.
Kent Boese, a gay former ANC commissioner, currently serves as executive director of the D.C. Office of ANCs.
“We are launching the most ambitious hyperlocal LGBTQ+ candidate pipeline initiative in the country,” said Stevie McCarty, the Capital Stonewall Democrats president, in a July 7 statement that announced the Queering ANCs campaign.
“As an ANC member, I know firsthand how these seats shape our neighborhoods, from housing and public safety to sanitation,” McCarty says in the statement. “I’m proud to lead this effort to ensure more LGBTQ+ Washingtonians see themselves as leaders in their communities,” he said.
The ANC Rainbow Caucus, which was created by LGBTQ ANC members, shows on its website that there are currently 38 caucus members consisting of elected LGBTQ ANC commissioners serving in the current 2025-2026 two-year term.
The website shows there are LGBTQ commissioners who are caucus members in each of the city’s eight wards, with six in Ward 1, eight in Ward 2, one in Ward 3, six in Ward 4, five in Ward 5, three in Ward 6, eight in Ward 7, and one in Ward 8.
The Washington Blade couldn’t immediately determine how many of them will be running for re-election in D.C.’s general election in November. But McCarty said Capital Stonewall Democrats hopes to recruit many more LGBTQ candidates to run for ANC seats.
The D.C. Board of Elections website shows the deadline for filing 25 required petition signatures to be placed on the ballot is Aug. 5.
A Queering ANCs website launched this week by Capital Stonewall Democrats provides details on how to run for an ANC seat and offers help for those interested in running.
“Think of someone in your building, neighborhood, friend group, community organization, or professional network who cares deeply about D.C. and would make a strong leader,” McCarty says in his statement. “Send them QueeringANCs.org and personally ask them to consider running,” he said.
The website can be accessed at QueeringANCs.org.
Baltimore
Ron Singer, owner of popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s, dies
66-year-old’s funeral to take place Friday
By CAYLA HARRIS | Ron Singer, the owner of Baltimore’s popular gay bar Leon’s Backroom, died Tuesday, the venue announced in a social media post. He was 66.
“For more than 20 years, Ron made Leon’s a place so many people were proud to call home,” the post reads. “He will be deeply missed.”
The Mount Vernon bar, typically open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, is still open Thursday, but doors will close at midnight so staff can attend his funeral Friday morning. Services are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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