CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2014 Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles ( www.lakesidepride.org ), Chicago's family of instrumental ensembles for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT ) community, is conducting two Music Director searches for the Lakeside Pride Freedom Marching Band and the shhh…OUT! Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble. Separate search committees, made up of ensemble members, members of the Board of Directors, and a leader from one of the other Lakeside Pride ensembles are conducting the search locally via targeted channels.
Christina Zurcher, the current Lakeside Pride Freedom Marching Band leader, will be completing 10 years of service as Music Director this year. During her tenure, the band has appeared across the Midwest — from Gary, Ind. to Madison, Wis. to Lansing, Mich. — and beyond winning several awards along the way. Her many accomplishments include serving as Artistic Director for the first-ever Team Band field show at Gay Games VII in Chicago, and playing a key role in the formation of the Pride of Indy Band and Color Guard in Indianapolis. Her imprint on Lakeside Pride is large and long lasting.
After five years as shhh…OUT! Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble Music Director, Omar Fong-Bances decided to step down from his leadership role in January 2014. Under his guidance, the ensemble regularly appeared at important community events, including the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Reeling LGBT International Film Festival, and the opening of the landmark "Out in Chicago" exhibition produced by Chicago History Museum. He will always be "Ole Sugar Eyes" to members of this 20-piece ensemble.
"All of our Lakeside Pride members greatly appreciate the many contributions Christy and Omar have made in service to our organization," commented Andrew Favreau, chair of the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles Board of Directors. "We have big shoes to fill and look forward to meeting prospective candidates who are able to help us continue to deliver on our mission through music, visibility and pride."
Potential candidates may submit their applications using the information published on LakesidePride.org under the "About Us" section of the website. Direct links for each search are:
˘ Jazz Ensemble Director, shhh…OUT! Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble http://bit.ly/1nXM6dQ
˘ Marching Band Director, Lakeside Pride Freedom Marching Band http://bit.ly/LUGiDc
Applications should be submitted no later than Friday, March 7, 2014. Interested candidates may direct general questions via email to the appropriate committee at either jazzsearch@lakesidepride.org or marchingsearch@lakesidepride.org .
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Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles is a recognized 501( c )( 3 ) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities connect with diverse audiences through music. Inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2011, the Lakeside Pride Freedom Marching Band, Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band, and shhh...OUT! Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble reaches more than one million people annually.
Windy City Media Group and ChicagoPride.com provide media support for the 2013/14 Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles Season. Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles is a recognized Resident Partner of Center on Halsted. Additional support provided by Preston Bradley Center.