One of the most anticipated nights of the year is almost here.
The 30th Annual Auction and Gala, benefiting the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus, is set to be an unforgettable evening of celebration, entertainment, fine dining and community. This year’s event is especially meaningful, marking not only the choruses’ biggest fundraiser of the year, but also Maestro Paul Caldwell’s 10th anniversary with the choruses.
Adding even more star power to the night, actor, singer and original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy culture expert Jai Rodriguez will serve as emcee and featured performer.
For Rodriguez, it is exactly the kind of event he loves most: one that brings people together for a joyful purpose.
“It’s just going to be a great night of fine dining and entertainment and uplifting,” Rodriguez said. “We give so much, we’re so stressed, and it’s very rare that we allow ourselves permission to plug back into community and to allow that to recharge us so we can go out in the world and fight those fights.”
That spirit of connection is at the heart of the gala, which has become a signature event for the choruses and a beloved tradition for supporters across the region. With a milestone anniversary, a celebrated musical leader, and a guest star who knows how to light up a room, this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most memorable yet.
Rodriguez said guests can expect more than a standard fundraiser. Along with the auction, elegant atmosphere and festive energy, he will also be taking the stage for a special performance.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m doing a full set of music, a little pop, a little Broadway — can’t not do Broadway at chorus events. Really fun, uplifting, upbeat.”
That performance will be paired with his emcee duties, creating a night that is equal parts celebration and showmanship.
Rodriguez brings years of experience to moments like these. Long before television audiences knew him from Queer Eye, he was performing on Broadway in Rent and taking part in major fundraising efforts through Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Over the years, he has turned that background into a unique calling, using his platform not only to entertain, but to help nonprofits tell their story in a way that inspires people to act.
“My superpower is the fundraising,” he said. “When I work with a new organization that I’ve not worked with before, they’re so excited and they want their mission to be contagious. So it’s my job as a host or my job as someone who’s going to help them fundraise to make sure that their messaging is infectious.”
That makes him a natural fit for the Seattle choruses, organizations whose legacy extends far beyond performance. For decades, the choruses have built community, lifted voices, and created space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to gather in song, solidarity and celebration.
“When you have a legacy organization like the choruses, it’s a no-brainer for me,” Rodriguez said.
And while the gala will certainly deliver glamour and entertainment, Rodriguez also sees it as something deeper: a chance for people to reconnect with one another and with the causes that matter most.
“These are dark times,” he said. “But I think in these times, historically, that’s when the community bands together and pushes through, because we are stronger when we work together.”
That message makes this year’s event feel especially timely. In a moment when many people are asking where they can make a difference, the gala offers a chance not only to support the arts, but to invest in an institution that has long served as a beacon of visibility, resilience and hope.
Rodriguez, who has continued to build a thriving career in television, film and live performance, still speaks with deep appreciation for spaces that center queer community. Whether discussing his Broadway roots, his cabaret work, or his years in the spotlight, he returns again and again to the value of gathering together in meaningful ways.
“I think people are looking for, how do I plug in? What can I do? What’s going to be impactful?” he said.
That is exactly what the auction and gala offers: a way to show up, celebrate, and help sustain the vital work of the choruses for years to come.
And for audience members hoping this appearance might be the start of a longer relationship with Seattle’s choral community, Rodriguez made it clear he would welcome the opportunity.
“The offer stands,” he said. “I would love to do a show with the chorus.”
For now, though, the focus is on the big night ahead — a room full of supporters dressed to impress, exciting auction items, music, laughter and a shared commitment to community.
With Jai Rodriguez bringing his signature charm, wit and powerhouse vocals to the stage, and with the choruses celebrating a major milestone alongside Maestro Paul Caldwell’s 10th anniversary, the 30th Annual Auction and Gala is poised to be a standout evening of inspiration and joy.
“I think it’s just going to be a really special night,” Rodriguez said. “I can’t wait. I’m so excited.”
For tickets, go to SeattleChoruses.org.
