Category: News

MARCHING DIRECTOR OVERVIEW:

The Marching Director is responsible for coordinating the GFBLA Marching Band including recruiting members, selecting music, conducting rehearsals, identifying instrument needs, and other duties related to the Marching Band. The Marching Band marches in at least two parades and provides pep music for at least one community event annually. The Marching Director is part of the Artistic Committee which plans and produces all concerts and music events within the GFBLA organization. As an artistic leader within GFBLA, the Marching Director must build and sustain GFBLA’s visibility and involvement in LGBTQ+, allied, and other marginalized communities. The Marching Director reports directly to the Artistic Director and the GFBLA Board of Directors and is expected to work closely with both to carry out the job responsibilities and duties. For additional details about the responsibilities, duties and expectations of the positions, please refer to the GFBLA Marching Director Job Description. This position is paid at a rate of $21/hr, with an expectation of 3 hours of work per week on average.

ELIGIBILITY:

Anyone internal or external to GFBLA is interested in this position with a background in music and leadership experience that meets the requirements of the job description. Marching experience and expertise is highly preferred.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

The Marching Director Selection Committee will review all completed applications received before the deadline to verify that applicants meet the requirements of the job description. If an applicant is selected to move forward, applicants will be asked to submit a rehearsal plan, lead a full rehearsal (which must include both music rehearsal and marching technique instruction), and interview with the Marching Director Selection Committee. After conducting the auditions and interviews, the Marching Director Selection Committee will provide its recommendations to the GFBLA Board of Directors.

HOW TO APPLY:

All application materials must be submitted to the Marching Director Selection Committee via email to marchingselection@gfbla.org by 11:59 p.m. PT on April 30, 2023.

The application consists of:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Marching Director Applicant Questionnaire

Marching Director Applicant Questionnaire: In a separate, typed document, provide your responses to the following questions:

Artistic Goals & Marching Programming

• What kind of artistic goals would you imagine for the GFBLA Marching Band?
• Please design and describe the criteria and ideas behind the following sets:
  • a marching set of three pep tunes for the marching band, as if preparing for one of our parades
  • a pep band program with two pep tunes, as if preparing for a non-marching public engagement

Advancing the GFBLA Mission

• In general, how do you feel about being a visible spokesperson for the band and the larger LGBT community? Describe any experience you have speaking in public and specifically about LGBT community concerns.
• Describe some ideas for reaching out to the community and furthering the mission of the band.

Organizational Excellence & Additional Qualifications

• What experience do you have working with a Board of Directors or other volunteer leaders? What have been the benefits of this and what challenges have you encountered? How have you used these benefits or addressed these challenges?
• Do you have any other skills and abilities you feel are relevant to the position?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about the Marching Director job description, the application, the application process, or any questions in general about GFBLA and its marching band, please reach out to marchingselection@gfbla.org. Someone from the committee will address any questions you may have.

Hello! If you’re watching this, you are probably a supporter of the Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for all you do!

GFBLA has had an exciting 2022. We returned to the stage late last year after the challenges of a virtual world and launched into our 2022 season including: a space-themed concert this spring, a summer of Pride performances, and our recent Fall concert dedicated to showcasing organizations which champion important social causes. We’re looking forward to a full year in 2023 at our new rehearsal home at Heart of Los Angeles!

As part of our community outreach efforts, this year we began partnering with HOLA to provide free GFBLA concert tickets to their students. HOLA is a nonprofit organization that provides underserved youth with free, exceptional programs in academics, arts, and athletics. You can help with a ticket sponsor donation whenever you buy your tickets to our shows!

Our next concert is a holiday sing-along on December 11th at 3PM at Immanuel Presbyterian Church – we’ll be feeling Santamental with all of you this season! Don your gayest apparel, or wear your ugliest holiday sweaters! We would love to celebrate this holiday season with you.

GFBLA is a nonprofit organization, and because of the generosity of our donors, we have been able to return to making music stronger than ever. With your support, we pay rent on our rehearsal space and storage space for our instruments and equipment, pay our artistic staff honoraria, and purchase new, challenging music to push our members to become better musicians.

This concert season we are saying farewell to Justin Raines, our artistic director of the past 10 years. Justin has been invaluable to the growth of the band and its artistic vision and standards, and to thank him, we would like to encourage you to make a special contribution to the Justin Raines Endowment in his honor. With your help, the endowment will support the long-term growth of GFBLA for many years to come!

Next year, 2023, is the band’s 45th year of programming, and we plan to be around for another 45! Please consider making a gift to the Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles this Giving Tuesday. Every donation goes toward our mission of promoting acceptance and celebrating diversity by bringing together musicians from across Southern California for performance and educational opportunities that embrace equality, inclusion, and the love of music.

Whether you’re a regular concert attendee, a donor, or you leave a like and comment on our social media posts, we thank you so much for your support. From all of us at Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles…

Thank you!

It had been three long years since we all marched together. We had such a great time spreading love and music at the LA and Long Beach Pride Parades this summer! Thanks to all those who marched with us and supported us!

We’re looking forward to more marching band events this fall! If you want to play an instrument, join the color guard, or volunteer to help, please contact our Marching Director, Leonard Dootson, at leonard.dootson@gfbla.org for details.

Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters of GFBLA,

We, the Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles (GFBLA), continue to stand in solidarity with all people across the nation negatively affected by the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday, June 24, 2022 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

On January 22, 1973, in its Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides a fundamental right to privacy, under which women are protected to make deeply personal choices about their health. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), again in the context of women’s health, this fundamental right of an individual’s privacy granted by the Fourteenth Amendment was upheld. On June 24th, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court overruled this long-held right to privacy protected under the first section of Fourteenth Amendment.

The Fourteenth Amendment’s first section has been cited in many Supreme Court cases. Most notably, under the protections provided in first section of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supreme Court ruled to end racial segregation (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954), ruled to protect the liberty of married couples to buy and use contraceptives without government restriction (Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965), ruled in favor of a woman’s right to privacy in making decisions about their health (Roe v. Wade, 1973), ruled that same-sex activity is legal in every U.S. state and territory (Lawrence v. Texas, 2003), and ruled to provide equal rights to marriage for same-sex couples (Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015).

With the current Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, overturning nearly four decades of precedent, GFBLA is disappointed and angered by this ruling. Two of GFBLA’s core values are “Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures” and “Commitment to Diversity”. As an organization, GFBLA treats all people with dignity and respect by being aware of and supporting personal perspectives, values, beliefs, and preferences. It is for this reason that we strongly oppose the decision by the Supreme Court to remove the protections of this fundamental right to choice and privacy.

We also publicly voice our concern that this new interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which was used to overturn a previous Supreme Court case, will allow for other rulings from cases that rely on the Fourteenth Amendment, such as Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), to be overturned.

One of GFBLA’s other core values is “Service and Stewardship”, where members are encouraged to volunteer their time, talent, and resources to support the cause of GFBLA and its community. To that end, we encourage all of our members and supporters to volunteer in whatever ways they can to support and protect our community who may be affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In Solidarity,

GFBLA Board of Directors

Contact: Mandi Collier (she/her)

Director of Communications, GFBLA

Email: communications@gfbla.org

Phone: 806-679-9836

GAY FREEDOM BAND OF LOS ANGELES TO HOST LIVE PERFORMANCE

Los Angeles — After more than two years since its last in-person concert, the Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles will host its debut performance at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown. The concert, themed “I’m Still Standing – The Music is Alive Again” will be held Dec. 12 at 3 p.m.

Led by Artistic Director Justin Raines and Assistant Artistic Director Joseph Vranas, GFBLA will present new musical selections “Festive Overture” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Satiric Dances” by Norman Dello Joio and Peter Meechan’s poignant “Song of Hope” featuring Vranas on trumpet. In keeping with the theme, the band will also perform Elton John’s hit “I’m Still Standing.” Preparations for the concert are currently underway at GFBLA’s new rehearsal space at the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) Arts and Recreation Center.

“After nearly two years, we are very excited to return to public performances,” Raines said. “Live music is essential to our collective health and well-being not only as musicians, but as a community and society. Music has always been connected to healing, and as we enter this new chapter of history, music is essential.”

Vranas added, “I’m excited to be a part of GFBLA’s return to live performance and delighted to say that we sound better than ever! I hope you will join us in this celebration of music, community and the wonderful talents of our members.”

Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required for entry. Though this is a free event, donations will be accepted and appreciated. Costs to keep the band running continued during the pandemic, so any donations received will help pay for storage space, venue rentals and member scholarships. Organizers will be hosting a donation drive prior to the event in conjunction with Giving Tuesday on November 30th. All donations can be made via PayPal to the Freedom Band Foundation of Los Angeles, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit community benefit organization which supports GFBLA, and are tax-deductible.

About the GFBLA:

The Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles promotes acceptance and celebrates diversity by bringing together musicians from across Southern California for performance and educational opportunities that embrace equality, inclusion, and the love of music. We welcome musicians with all levels of experience and from all backgrounds. Founded in 1978, GFBLA is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ concert bands in the world. Originally named the Great American Yankee Freedom Band of Los Angeles, this group was created to promote visibility of the LGBTQ+ community and to provide entertainment at pride celebrations. The scope of the band has since expanded, focusing now on providing a positive environment for everybody, enriching the community through music, and setting an example of acceptance and camaraderie among all people. Throughout its forty years, GFBLA has witnessed many of the important milestones in gay history. Drawing from the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic and the battles for marriage equality and transgender rights, our musicians bring a deep well of experience to all of our performances. Learn more on Facebook, Instagram or at GFBLA.org.

If you would like more information regarding GFBLA, or to schedule an interview with Artistic Staff Justin Raines or Joseph Vranas, please contact Mandi Collier via email at communications@gfbla.org.

Dear Members and Supporters:

The Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles (GFBLA) Board of Directors (Board) has the great pleasure of announcing our new rehearsal and performance home.

Dating back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic, the Board has been on a long journey to find a new venue that is more acoustically ideal to facilitate effective and productive rehearsals. “Paramount to a rehearsal environment’s success is that the space be conducive to discriminating listening, so that nuances of intonation, articulation, and other musical intricacies can be heard by the musicians and conductor” (Ryherd, 2008)[1]. Moreover, the Board also wanted to find an organization to explore a long-term partnership where our mission, vision, core values, and goals are aligned with theirs within the Los Angeles community.

Like many nonprofit, arts, cultural, and musical organizations, the pandemic has presented numerous challenges. One could use the common proverbial phrase, “When life give you lemons, make lemonade,” to express how GFBLA has been able to remain steadfast, resilient, and creative to welcome optimism, positivity, and a can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. The current situation at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (FCCLA) has certain unknowns and uncertainties regarding our rehearsal and performance accommodation. With timely serendipity on our side, the Board has capitalized on forming a new relationship that has blossomed quickly into a potential long-term, strategic, and synergistic partnership.

It is said that the percussion is the heartbeat of band. Similarly, the Board is thrilled to announce that GFBLA has found our new pulse with the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA). HOLA’s mission is to “provide underserved youth with free, exceptional programs in academics, arts and athletics within a nurturing environment, empowering them to develop their potential, pursue their education and strengthen their communities”[2]. Music is the core component of HOLA since its inception, with its first formal arts program beginning in 1993[3]. HOLA partnered with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2010 to launch the Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA), which is the second site of Gustavo Dudamel’s signature program.

Through rounds of recent discussions, Tony Brown, Chief Executive Officer of HOLA, has agreed that there is an opportunity for the two organizations to continue exploring various ways to deepen the partnership and further develop our continued visioning for our shared vision and mission. HOLA has also welcomed GFBLA to our new home at HOLA for our weekly Tuesday rehearsals and planned performances. HOLA has a 24,000-square-foot facility, Arts & Recreation Center (ARC) with the state- of-the-art Performance Pavilion, that was innovatively built using “modified shipping containers as ‘building blocks’ to create an extremely energy and cost-efficient structure” (HOLA, 2021)[4].

The Board, Artistic Directors, and Staff have been busy working behind the scenes to plan for the move to HOLA. The time is now!

With bountiful opportunities,

GFBLA Board of Directors

[1] Ryherd, Erica (2008). Acoustic design of music rehearsal rooms. Physics Today, 61(8), 68. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2970221
[2] Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) (2021). Who is HOLA? https://www.heartofla.org/mission
[3] Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) (2021). Music. https://www.heartofla.org/music
[4] Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) (2021). Our new Arts & Recreation Center.
https://www.heartofla.org/artsandrecreationcenter