Say You Want a Revolution
Music of Change & Transformation
Featured Artist
Linus Ip
2026 Pride Bands Alliance Conference Concert
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 celebrates the Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, other important historical moments in America and Philadelphia, and calls for progress. We pay homage to LGBTQ+ history, celebrate the nation’s deep musical roots, and champion hope for the future. The concert will feature the world premieres of two newly commissioned pieces composed by Michael Evans and local composer Melissa Dunphy.
The concert band names were selected to celebrate two of Philadelphia's rivers: the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon.
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.
Program
Wissahickon Band
Clare Grundman Concord
Melissa Dunphy Forbidden
Samuel Barber arr Hudson, F Overture to "The School for Scandal"
Omar Thomas A Mother of a Revolution
Tomas B. Yee (in)Justice Now
Intermission
Schuylkill Band
JP Sousa Liberty Bell March
Rossano Gallante Freedom Defended
Michael J. Evans Pride and Power
Grace Baugher Dunlap Remembering the Remarkables
Jayce Ogren Symphonies of Gaia
