Pride Bands Alliance—Say You Want a Revolution: Music of Change and Transformation.

Celebrate a Queer semiquincentennial summer with 250+ LGBTQ+ musicians at Marian Anderson Hall, May 24th.

Save the date and purchase a ticket here  https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/rent-our-spaces/special-events-and-performances/say-you-want-a-revolution

Pride Bands Alliance and the Philadelphia Freedom Band (PFB) present the 2026 Pride Bands Alliance Conference Concert – Say You Want a Revolution: Music of Change and Transformation.

The concert, conducted by PFB Artistic Director Hayley Varhol, PFB Assistant Artistic Director Ryan Lowrie, and a range of guest conductors from other Pride Bands member ensembles, will feature two separate bands with a total of over 300 musicians from across the country.

Our repertoire will celebrate the Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, other important historical moments in America and Philadelphia, and calls for progress. We also plan to pay homage to LGBTQ+ history, celebrate the nation’s deep musical roots, and champion hope for the future. Say You Want a Revolution will feature the debut of two newly commissioned pieces composed by Michael Evans and local Philadelphia composer Melissa Dunphy.

The Philadelphia Freedom Band is Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community band, with marching, concert, and jazz ensembles. Pride Bands Alliance is an organization of LGBTQ+ community concert and marching bands from cities around the world. Pride Bands and all of its member bands, including PFB, are dedicated to the goals of promoting LGBTQ+ music, visibility and pride.