Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Jaworski
Joey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I think about my story, I think of two different sides of my life. There is the professional
side and there is the music side. I will focus on how I came to be involved with the Atlanta Gay
Men’s Chorus and our parent organization, Voices of Note. Singing has always been a passion, it
is my escape from everyday life and the challenges life throws at you. For me, I am able to
forget about it all and make beautiful music with my friends and chorus family. When I first
moved to Atlanta in 2016, I really didn’t have a community. I wanted to find a place where I not
only could express myself through music, but also express myself as a member of the LGBTQIA+
community. My partner worked with someone who’s partner sang with the chorus and for
years tried to get me to audition. I just kept thinking “I don’t have the voice to join a real
chorus, I just do this for fun.” However, it was January 2020 when I finally took the step to
audition and was accepted into the chorus.
Fast forward two months and we all know what happened then. I had found this community, I
was back singing, I had friends again and in the blink of an eye it was taken away by COVID.
Throughout COVID we still put together virtual shows and would have rehearsals via Zoom, but
it just was not the same. Over a year and a half later we finally were able to be back together in
person and that is really when my involvement in the organization took off!
I have always enjoyed giving back to organizations that have given something to me. The AGMC
gave me a family, gave me a home, gave me a safe space to tell stories through music. One way
I thought I could give back was to join the leadership of the Chorus. My first position was as a
Music Advisory Committee Representative, where I was part of a team that guided and assisted
in the selection of the music that we sing. Still wanting to give more, I decided to run for
President-Elect of the organization in Spring 2022. I was honored to be elected into the role. In
this role, I would serve as President-Elect for one year and then transition to be President for
one year. However, when our President needed to step down, I was asked to fill the role of
President for nearly two years.
During those years from Fall 2022 through Fall 2024, our organization grew exponentially, not
only in numbers, but in experience and diversity. As the President of the organization, I had the
privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of Voices of Note, which is the parent organization
for both the Atlanta Women’s Chorus and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus. During this time, we
also went through a change in leadership of our Voices of Note Board of Directors and Staff.
However, through this all our membership has shown such resilience and strength. Through
every member’s strengths we are able to continue to Change Hearts and Minds Through Music
by Inspiring Dialogue and Driving Social Equity Through Artistic Excellence.
After my tenure as President, I was asked to join the Voices of Note Board as a member to help
lead our organization into the future, and subsequently have been honored to become a
member of our Executive Committee within the Board. Even though my tenure with the
organization has been short, I have been continuously inspired by the work we do, the
messages we bring to our audience, and the commitment of our members to strive for not only
artistic excellence, but also being allies and advocates for those in our community that are
being strategically undervalued. Through music, we have a voice, and as we enter a new era of
uncertainty for members of our community, we will continue to bring those messages, we will
use our voices to lift people up, and we will SING!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I try to look at obstacles and challenges as opportunities to develop and grow. I think everyone
has challenges/struggles in life, but its how we tackle those that define us as a person. In my
time with Voices of Note and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus we have definitely faced our fair
share of challenges. I think one of our biggest struggles was how we, as an organization, stayed
afloat during the pandemic. As a music organization were singing is one of the easiest ways to
spread airborne viruses, we had to get creative with how we were going to keep sharing music
with our community. During this time we were able to create virtual shows. These shows
consisted of content from past shows as well as brand new content. For several pieces, we
would utilize our cell phone cameras to record ourselves singing our own part for a song. With
the help of some creative and digitally-savvy members, they were able to weave together these
videos and create one video of all our voices. Additionally, we got creative with utilizing
outdoor spaces to video ourselves lip-syncing to a track that would then be laid-over with our
actual voices. Lastly, one of the more memorable recordings was in our cars. We lined up cars
in a parking lot and a track would be played through a radio station in our cars. One of
members who owns a production company was able to connect about 20 microphones to a
system and you would be handed a microphone in your car to sing along. It was a really creative
and fulfilling moment for our members.
Another challenge that I personally faced was when I took over as President of the Atlanta Gay
Men’s Chorus 10 months earlier than anticipated. At the same time this transition was taking
place, we were also going through a transition of our Voices of Note Board Chair and our Voices
of Note Executive Director. During this time, the membership of the Chorus was struggling and
we needed to not only get our members excited, but our organization was struggling both
organizationally and financially. Part of my efforts as President was to create processes and
ensure information was documented and kept in a repository. This was a huge undertaking for
not only me, but for the entire Chorus executive board at the time. However, we could not have
asked for better people at the right time. Through supporting one another and through hard
work we were able to get the plane back in the air and start flying again. Today, our
organization membership is exploding, the excitement for our members is unmatched, and our
outlook for the future is exciting.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I alluded to, I view there are two sides of what makes me who I am. The other side of me, is
what I do professionally for work. I have always had a love and passion for aviation. One thing I
loved to do as a kid was to go to our hometown airport and sit with my Dad and watch planes
takeoff and land. The sound of the roaring engines and the sight of the aircraft taking flight
could keep me engaged for hours. I took that passion and decided to attend Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management and my
Master of Science in Human Factors and Systems.
Today, I am living out my passion as a Human Factors Flight Test Engineer. Specifically, my
career allows me to work with all different types of aircraft and technologies. I work for the
Federal Aviation Administration in Aircraft Certification, and thus my job is to certify
aircraft/technologies through flight testing. My specific role as a human factors specialist is to
look at the different human-machine interface, mostly within the flight deck. We are often
looking at new/novel/updated pilot technologies and how these technologies impact areas
such as pilot workload.
Being able to live out both my passion in aviation through my career and then my passion for
music through my work with Voices of Note is extremely fulfilling.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have had several people throughout my time with the organization that are directly responsible for everything I have been able to accomplish. To think I did any of this alone, would be foolish as team work has been the answer to how successful we have become. From our Artistic Director, Donald Milton II to our amazing leaders in the choruses and on the Board of Directors, I know their efforts and care for this organization has made us successful.
A few people that have successfully helped me grow, not only as a person but as a leader and a friend are my closest group of friends, Nathaniel, Sean, and Christopher. They have not only been a sounding board for me, but have also been a source of joy, laughter, and escape. They remind me to take time for myself and help me to enjoy the small things in life, even if that means a constant barrage of cat memes throughout the day!
My biggest mentor has been our Voices of Note Executive Director, David Aurilio. David came to our organization when we needed him most and has been a constant source of motivation and encouragement. He often sees things in me before I can see them for myself and he often challenges me to think deeper. He is one person I call for almost everything and he is the first person to put me in my place when I need it. Without not only his mentorship, but his guidance, support, love, and leadership, I know I have become a better leader, person, and friend because of him.
Lastly, without my partner I know I couldn’t do anything I do. From my professional career to my time with Voices of Note he is constantly encouraging and supporting me, even when it means taking time away from the things I get to do with him. He is the one who pushed me the hardest to audition for the chorus, because he knew what music meant to me. He is there by my side through each new role I take on and is a constant source of motivation and most importantly, love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://voicesofnote.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agmchorus/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/13yCcXf55G/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjaworski/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@atlantagaymenschorus?si=_uxKkzaTw4XcN99E
