BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES
Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a diverse community choir of Broadway professionals united to change lives through the power of music and service. BIV is committed to supporting and strengthening communities in need.
In 1994 more than 32,000 people died from AIDS or AIDS-related complications in the U.S. Many of those deaths came from within the Broadway community. As Broadway grappled with the loss of an entire generation of artists, Tony and Grammy-nominated Michael McElroy (founder of the Broadway Inspirational Voices) saw in the community a profound need for hope, unity, and inspiration. He envisioned an organization where professional performers would come together and volunteer their talents to provide comfort, joy, and the promise of a better day–and as a result, The Broadway Gospel Choir was born. This magical synergy of authentic Gospel soul and Broadway bravura was re-imagined as the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) in 1999 and they have been the theatre community’s center of support and celebration ever since.
In 2019, The Tony Awards Administration Committee presented the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to four outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry, and Broadway Inspirational Voices was a recipient. The Tony Honor was a resounding endorsement of BIV’s enduring work and impact and in celebration of 25 years of service. In 2020, McElroy hand picked composer/singer Allen René Louis to become the new Artistic Director for BIV.
Yearly fundraising supports BIV’s Arts & Education Programs, capacity building initiatives, and enables BIV to offer affordable and accessible tickets to our concerts. In partnership with award-winning national organizations, such as Covenant House International and Ronald McDonald’s House, BIV successfully provides ongoing in-person and virtual services to address the needs of homeless youth, pediatric cancer patients, incarcerated individuals, and disenfranchised communities. BIV’s celebrated concerts are performed by a dedicated volunteer choir of Broadway artists committed to supporting BIV’s mission, and their volunteerism, along with support from donors, enables BIV to offer affordable tickets to reach a wide range of audiences.
