The Mid America Freedom Band of Kansas City has announced that it has established a scholarship, which is open to anyone interested in advancing their musical knowledge or skills.
The scholarship money was raised with proceeds from the band’s December 2007 holiday concert, and the scholarship winners will be announced this summer.
This year, the band is offering two awards of $250, and the organization hopes that as it grows, so can its scholarship program.
“We’ve survived six years of entertaining our fans in Kansas City because of the community’s generosity,” said Kristopher Stice, Executive Director. “And we’ve reached a point where we are stable and mature enough to help others grow in their musical abilities, too.”
The scholarship has few restrictions. The winners must be 18 years of age or older and the funds must be spent on musical education.
“There is no ideal candidate,” said Stice. “I can imagine a college student using the money toward tuition, an adult picking up a new instrument or re-learning one they used to know, or even someone taking piano lessons for his or her own enjoyment.”
Applicants can find information and application forms at http://www.mafbmusic.com/. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2008. The awards will be announced and presented at the band’s “Martinis & Music” fundraiser at Bar Natasha on Thursday, August 7.
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By Adam Yarbrough
Friday, April 11, 2008
Houston Pride Band “Celebrates” 30 Year Anniversary
The Houston Pride Band’s 2007-2008 season is called “Celebrate” in honor of our 30th anniversary. We decided that, in addition to celebrating this milestone, we would rededicate ourselves to the community. Thanks to sponsors like Concierge Travel, Resurrection MCC, the City of Houston, and our wonderful supporters, we were able to cover the costs of the concerts. That allowed us to designate beneficiaries to our three paid concerts. These community organizations receive the money collected from ticket sales.
The Fall concert was called “Celebrate Diversity” and featured music from diverse styles and times. We also invited groups from throughout the community to set up booths at the reception afterwards. The concert raised $1,200 for AssistHers a local service group that helps lesbians going through life-threatening illnesses.
In December, we joined with Resurrection MCC to present “Celebrate the Season,” a free Christmas concert. We performed with the RMCC choir, gospel choir, and hand bell choir.
Our Winter Concert, “Celebrate Relationships,” benefitted the local PFLAG chapter. We played “West Side Story,” “Rollo Takes a Walk,” “Ukranian Folk Songs,” “My Funny Valentine,” among other works. At the beginning of the year, we had an infusion of new members, and performed with around 30 musicians for the first time in many years.
Our next performance was at the 2008 Houston AIDS Walk, benefitting the Houston AIDS Foundation. We have played along the walk route for many years, but last year we decided to also register as a team. This year we raised over $2,000 for the cause.
Our next event will be our “Celebrate Families” children’s concert. It will be a free concert in the park in conjunction with the Houston Gay and Lesbian Parent’s organization.
The final event of the season will be our 30th Anniversary Celebration and participation in the Houston Pride Parade the next day. The festivities include a special concert on Friday, 27 June, the Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, and pool party on Sunday. The concert will feature classic Houston Pride Band works as well as some great new music. We are excited that Conductor Emeritus Andy Mills will be conducting a couple of pieces that evening. The beneficiary will be Montrose Counseling Center. We hope that former members as well as our friends from around LGBA-land will join us for this great event. We also appreciate any information about the whereabouts of former members and any historical information that anyone has out there.
More information will soon be online at http://www.houstonprideband.org/.
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by Kevin Taylor
The Fall concert was called “Celebrate Diversity” and featured music from diverse styles and times. We also invited groups from throughout the community to set up booths at the reception afterwards. The concert raised $1,200 for AssistHers a local service group that helps lesbians going through life-threatening illnesses.
In December, we joined with Resurrection MCC to present “Celebrate the Season,” a free Christmas concert. We performed with the RMCC choir, gospel choir, and hand bell choir.
Our Winter Concert, “Celebrate Relationships,” benefitted the local PFLAG chapter. We played “West Side Story,” “Rollo Takes a Walk,” “Ukranian Folk Songs,” “My Funny Valentine,” among other works. At the beginning of the year, we had an infusion of new members, and performed with around 30 musicians for the first time in many years.
Our next performance was at the 2008 Houston AIDS Walk, benefitting the Houston AIDS Foundation. We have played along the walk route for many years, but last year we decided to also register as a team. This year we raised over $2,000 for the cause.
Our next event will be our “Celebrate Families” children’s concert. It will be a free concert in the park in conjunction with the Houston Gay and Lesbian Parent’s organization.
The final event of the season will be our 30th Anniversary Celebration and participation in the Houston Pride Parade the next day. The festivities include a special concert on Friday, 27 June, the Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, and pool party on Sunday. The concert will feature classic Houston Pride Band works as well as some great new music. We are excited that Conductor Emeritus Andy Mills will be conducting a couple of pieces that evening. The beneficiary will be Montrose Counseling Center. We hope that former members as well as our friends from around LGBA-land will join us for this great event. We also appreciate any information about the whereabouts of former members and any historical information that anyone has out there.
More information will soon be online at http://www.houstonprideband.org/.
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by Kevin Taylor
South Florida Pride Jazz plays for Bill Clinton
The South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was recently hired to perform at a private fundraiser for the Hillary for President campaign. It was an intimate affair with about 60 guests, hosted by Dean Trantalis, a local attorney and ground breaking openly gay politician, and his partner Richard Smith. The event culminated with the arrival of its most special guest, President William Jefferson Clinton.
President Clinton gives a speech at the fundraiser
The Jazz Ensemble welcomed guests as they arrived in the front yard under a Pride Flag, performing with professional pride in record high temperatures and not breaking a sweat when the President exited his SUV. He stopped and listened as the band finished its chart, all smiles. He congratulated the band and told them how much he enjoys a big band as he grew up playing jazz. He walked through the band and shook hands, greeting everyone and then asked for another number.
The South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble performs
After the performance, the members got to go through the reception line, each greeting the President personally and having their pictures taken with the President. Following this, the President addressed the crowd for about 20 minutes before proceeding on to another fundraiser.
This was a once in a life time event. Not only did the Jazz Ensemble get to share its music with President Clinton at an openly gay and lesbian event, but each member got to meet the President personally. They got to share a few moments with a man who is not only a great world leader and friend of our community, but a fellow musician as well.
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By Brian French
Rockin' Rochester!
BASSically TREBLEmakers, in Rochester, New York, in the midst of planning its 2008 season. We'll be performing for the following:
* Saturday, June 7, 2008 - Rochester AIDSWalk
* Sunday, June 29, 2008 - Toronto Pride
* Saturday, July 19, 2008 - Rochester Pride
* Saturday, August 23, 2008 (T) - The New York State Fair
You're invited to join us for any of our events, and most especially for Toronto Pride. The last weekend of June is a busy time for LGBA bands with pride celebrations in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta, but if you're not marching in one of these events, consider digging out your passport (or birth certificate with raised seal) and heading north of the border to march in Toronto Pride. With nearly a million spectators, Toronto Pride brings together all kinds of people from all over the world. You’ve marched in LGBT Pride events in the United States. Why not go international?!? If you're interested, please contact Judy Ames at jaajudy@rochester.rr.com.
* Saturday, June 7, 2008 - Rochester AIDSWalk
* Sunday, June 29, 2008 - Toronto Pride
* Saturday, July 19, 2008 - Rochester Pride
* Saturday, August 23, 2008 (T) - The New York State Fair
You're invited to join us for any of our events, and most especially for Toronto Pride. The last weekend of June is a busy time for LGBA bands with pride celebrations in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta, but if you're not marching in one of these events, consider digging out your passport (or birth certificate with raised seal) and heading north of the border to march in Toronto Pride. With nearly a million spectators, Toronto Pride brings together all kinds of people from all over the world. You’ve marched in LGBT Pride events in the United States. Why not go international?!? If you're interested, please contact Judy Ames at jaajudy@rochester.rr.com.
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