Board of Directors

Join the AvlGMC Board of Directors

The AvlGMC (Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus)is inviting passionate and skilled community members to apply for positions on our Board of Directors. As one of Western North Carolina’s premier performing arts organizations, we are looking for individuals who can help guide our future with expertise and enthusiasm.

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in:

• Public relations

• Marketing

• Grant writing

• Fundraising

Our Board meets monthly and plays a vital role in strategic planning, financial oversight, and supporting the Artistic and Operations teams in delivering vibrant concert seasons.

If you’re inspired to help build community through music and want to contribute to a dynamic, evolving organization, we’d love to hear from you!

Contact us today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Bob Renjilian, President – Bob joined the chorus in 2020 and sings bass.  He is a minister in Brevard.

Brent Kimbro – Brent has been a member of the AvlGMC since 2023 and is currently serving as the chorus’s Manager of Operations.
Brent has extensive experience with chorus operations and management through his previous affiliations with Nashville in Harmony, where he served as board president, and The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, where he served as membership coordinator.
Brent lives with his husband Wesley in Canton, NC

Jack Parsons – Jack is one of the founding members of Cantaria / AvlGMC in 1997 and has sung Tenor 2 with chorus ever since.  With training in Mathematics and Theatre and holding an MBA, Jack served as an Accountant and CFO for various Mental Health agencies through the years..  He once taught Algebra to 9th graders and has served locally as Treasurer for the Cathedral of All Souls and the Episcopal Diocese.  He lives in North Asheville with husband Leland and is happy to serve as Treasurer on the Board.

Leland Derryberry – Leland moved to Asheville in 2007 after growing up in the Southwest.  Earlier in his career, he was a teacher of elementary gifted students but then became a designer consultant and installer of high-end window coverings.  After arriving here and joining AGMC, he made significant contributions to the chorus by founding and heading up the signature fund raising Cabaret event for over 10 years.  He is married to Jack, whom he met at the 2004 GALA festival in Montreal.  

Scott Smith – A native of Chicago, Scott has been involved in the choral arts since he was 13 years old.
After 34 years in the professional world, having worked at IBM and Kyndryl, Scott retired in 2023 from his position as Managing Director of the Kyndryl Network Sales team. Scott is also a trustee emeritus for The William Baker Choral Foundation (WBCF), a multi-state choral arts organization. Within the Choral foundation, Scott has served as both singer and staff member, holding several roles related to chorus operations and musical execution.

Outside of the WBCF, Scott has been a member of his church choir for over 27 years and has frequently been a guest soloist for Atlanta area churches. In 2017, he was a guest soloist for the Atlanta Freedom Bands’ performance honoring the music of George Gershwin.
Scott holds the belief that magic exists in the world and that magic is something that is uniquely created by people. Of course, that magic is choral music. While many other creatures can make sounds, it is only humans who do so in such a manner that a single note can transform into harmonies, with different meanings and feelings being conveyed. In fact, the same words can have a different impact when structured with a different key, tempo and phrasing. The magic of choral music brings both ideas and emotions to all who hear or perform it.

In 2024, Scott joined the board of the Asheville Men’s Chorus and he is looking forward to using his skills gained in both corporate and arts organizations to enable the Chorus continue to grow and flourish, serving the greater Asheville area. Scott and his husband, Mark, have been together for over 25 years, and we currently split our time between Atlanta and Waynesville with a plan to relocate to WNC 100% within the next few years.

Robert Whitmore – Rob is a recently retired CPA and financial executive, having held senior management positions
at Toyota, Johnson & Johnson, Sony, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Rob, born and raised in the
Northeast, and his husband, Talmage, relocated to the Asheville area from Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, in May 2024. In Asheville, Rob is actively involved in the community, including service at
the Cathedral of All Souls, where he serves on the finance committee and is a founding member
of the LGBTQ+ ministry (All Sorts Together). Rob is also actively involved with the Humane
Society and Blue Ridge Pride and is a member of the Asheville Art.
While living in Fort Lauderdale, Rob was engaged in financial oversight, fundraising, and public
relations for several animal rights organizations. Their son, Kyle, is currently pursuing a PhD in
Mathematics at the University of Florida.

Talmage McLaurin – My life with music in bullet points include:
•piano lessons as a child leading to my role as church pianist during my high school and college
days •hanging with the music and theatre nerds during my college years when I earned a
degree in psychology •musical theatre roles and performance post college and two years of
classical voice training •additionally, being a musical enthusiast with interest from bluegrass to
Baroque to Broadway
My business experience includes:
•publisher of a national magazine and book company for 25 years directing editorial, creative,
sales and marketing divisions of the company •creative director and product developer for
international flower growers and mass market brands that includes the development and
publication of yearly trend forecasts for the flower industry