Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard

Last updated
Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard
instrumental and pageantry ensemble
Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard full-color logo.jpg
Founded2005
Location Indianapolis, Indiana
Website https://www.prideofindy.org/

The Pride of Indy Bands is a performing musical ensemble in Indianapolis of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other LGBT-friendly musicians. [1] Founded in March 2005, The Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard is currently the only LGBT instrumental and pageantry ensemble in Indiana, [2] and is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association. [3] The organization conducts its activities in a supportive, accepting and affirming atmosphere, and includes experienced and amateur musicians. The band also assists adult members who do not have access to instruments by helping them rent or borrow instruments through local organizations. [4]

Contents

History

Since the band's beginnings in 2005, the band has grown to include a performing membership of 50 musicians, and has at one time included a marching band, pep band, a concert band, a brass ensemble, a woodwind ensemble, a saxophone collective, a visual ensemble, and a Jazz Band. Founding members include, among others, Travis Tester, Laura Blake, Shelly Snider, and Stephen McCoy. [2] The group has a yearly performance calendar filled with over 20 concerts and special appearances at community events locally and in cities outside of Indiana. [5]

The band performs annually at the Indy Pride Festival and Parade. [6]

Pride of Indy Bands (PI) notable milestones

Pride of Indy ensembles

Pride of Indy conductors (in chronological order)

Pride of Indy Concert Band

Pride of Indy Jazz Ensemble

Pride of Indy Marching Band

Geeks & Grooves Saxophone Collective


Related Research Articles

The Queer Big Apple Corps (QBAC), formerly the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps (LGBAC) is a community band based in New York City. Founded on September 24, 1979 as the New York Gay Community Marching Band, QBAC is the third-oldest community band in the United States dedicated to serving the LGBT community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Pride Band</span> Musical artist

The San Francisco Pride Band is a community-based concert, marching, and pep band in San Francisco. It is the official band of San Francisco. Founded in 1978, it was the first openly gay musical organization in the world. The band promotes visibility and musical education for the Bay Area's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (plus) (LGBTQ+) communities. Although a majority of its members are LGBTQ+, many are heterosexual allies who join to support the LGBTQ+ community and to participate in the community concert band, marching band, or pep band. The band presents musical programs that help build understanding between LGBTQ+ and other communities.

The Cal Poly Mustang Band, also known as The Pride of the Pacific, is the official marching band of California Polytechnic State University in the city of San Luis Obispo, California. Although the band is not a competitive marching band they serve as a school spirit organization. The band functions in two different forms throughout the year. In the fall the band marches as The Mustang Marching Band and during Cal Poly's winter quarter they function as a pep band. The band attends many athletic events during the year to encourage the school's athletic teams and audience support/involvement. The marching band is well-known around campus as an exciting and spirited group that brings pep, passion, and tradition to every performance. The marching band is conducted by three directors: Christopher J. Woodruff, Nicholas P. Waldron, and Len Kawamoto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Gay Men's Chorus</span>

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) is a choral organization in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1983 with 55 singers, the chorus currently consists of approximately 150 singing members and over 200 members in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marching Pride of North Alabama</span> Marching band of the University of North Alabama

The Marching Pride of North Alabama, is the official marching band of the University of North Alabama. The band, which is the largest organization on campus, performs at all North Alabama Lions football home games, as well as local parades and high school competition exhibitions across the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride Bands Alliance</span> International music organisation

Pride Bands Alliance is an international network of LGBTQ+ and affirming community bands founded in 1982 as the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America. The organization supports local bands by providing a network for communication, hosting annual conferences, and providing the opportunity for members to perform in massed band performances in major events throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus</span> Worlds first openly gay mens chorus, credited with creating the LGBT choral movement

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) is the world's first openly gay chorus, one of the world's largest male choruses and the group most often credited with creating the LGBT choral movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peggy Gilbert</span> American jazz musician and bandleader (1905–2007)

Peggy Gilbert, born Margaret Fern Knechtges, was an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader.

The mission of the Freedom Band of Los Angeles is to bring together the diverse communities of Southern California through education, rehearsal and performance of music and other performing arts. It is second musical organization of its kind in the world to be founded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indy Pride Festival</span> Annual LGBT festival in Indianapolis

Indy Pride Festival is the annual week of LGBT pride events in Indianapolis. The week is organized by LGBTQ organization Indy Pride, Inc., and has been held under this name and organization for over a decade. In recent years, more than 95,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual people have attended the festival. Indy Pride's Parade and Festival is held the 2nd Saturday in June, with a week of events leading up to it, in honor of the Stonewall Riots and in accordance with other United States pride festivals. Indy Pride Festival is the largest LGBT pride event in Indiana.

Eric Thomas Knechtges, DM is an American composer. He has written works for a wide variety of performing mediums including: concert band, orchestra, a cappella choir, and chamber ensembles.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. (GMCW), is one of the oldest LGBT choral organizations in the United States. With more than 300 singing members, it is also one of the largest. The chorus's stated mission is that it "delights audiences and champions gay equality with robust artistry, fun, and surprise." In addition to singing members, GMCW has nearly 100 support volunteers, 400 subscribers, 500 donors and an annual audience of nearly 10,000. The parent organization is the Federal City Performing Arts Association, Inc., and GMCW is a member of GALA Choruses.

The Indianapolis Youth Orchestra is an organization in Indianapolis, Indiana that exists "to develop the musical talent and nurture the personal growth of young people in Indianapolis and central Indiana through the rehearsal and performance of orchestral masterworks, both traditional and contemporary." The Indianapolis Youth Orchestra was founded by Susan Kitterman in 1982 and currently consists of three separate orchestras:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indy Pride</span> LGBTQ organization in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indy Pride is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a community-based, non-profit organization that seeks "to unite and serve its members and the LGBTQ community of Central Indiana through leadership development, educational and support programs, and community events that achieve inclusivity, equality, strong community connections, and awareness of LGBTQ issues." The organization started in 1995 as the coordinator of the city's annual gay pride parade and event—Indy Pride Festival—but later grew into an umbrella for multiple LGBT community entities, including the Chris Gonzalez Library and Archives, Indy Bag Ladies, and Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin Pride</span> Annual LGBTQ+ event in Dublin, Ireland

The Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Festival is an annual series of events which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) life in Dublin, Ireland. It is the largest LGBTQ+ pride festival on the island of Ireland. The festival culminates in a pride parade which is held annually on the last Saturday in June. The event has grown from a one-day event in 1974 to a ten-day festival celebrating LGBT culture in Ireland with an expanded arts, social and cultural content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band</span> College marching band in Cullowhee, North Carolina

The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is the marching band which represents Western Carolina University. The band performs pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows at all Catamounts Football home games and routinely provides exhibition performances throughout the Southeast. Unlike most college marching bands, the Pride of the Mountains designs, creates, and performs one perfected halftime show other than doing different performances every week.

Pendleton Heights High School, also known as "PHHS," is a public high school in Pendleton, Indiana. It is part of the South Madison Community School Corporation and has an enrollment of around 1,400 students.

Woodbury High School, formerly Woodbury Senior High, is a high school serving grades 9–12 in Woodbury, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the South Washington County Schools. The school's mascot is 'Roar the Lion' and the school colors are blue and white. The sports teams of Woodbury High School goes by the "Royals."

The Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra was the first, and for many years the only, symphony orchestra in the United States formally chartered upon inception to represent and serve the gay/lesbian community. Founded in 1992 by the late Kevin Ford, it is headquartered in Minneapolis and performs at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul. Its current Artistic Director and Principal Conductor is Dr. Brian Edward Dowdy.

The Indianapolis Men's Chorus is a nonprofit musical group composed of members who identify as male and serve as ambassadors for the LGBTQ community of Indianapolis. Founded as a gay men’s chorus by the non-profit Crossroads Performing Arts, Inc., the group was essential to making gay Hoosiers more visible during early Indy Pride events. The group's choral director Michael Hayden is credited with diffusing a potentially violent protest in 1991. The Indianapolis Men's Chorus continues to work to positively represent the Indianapolis LGBTQ community and build bridges with allies and all Hoosiers through music.

References

  1. "Pride of Indy Bands". pride-of-indy. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  2. 1 2 Conrad, Kristin (2022-06-07). "Lifelong Music-Making with the Pride of Indy Bands". Music for All. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  3. "Pride of Indy Bands, Inc – Pride Bands Alliance" . Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  4. 1 2 "Lifelong Music-Making with the Pride of Indy Bands". Music for All. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  5. 1 2 "Calendar".
  6. "History of Pride". Indy Pride, Inc. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. "Pride Of Indy Bands Inc". State of Indiana IRS. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  8. Ditmire, Jill (2015-06-04). "The Pride Of Indy Bands Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Artistic Directors & Board". pride-of-indy. Retrieved 2023-06-24.