Update #5: Guest Artistic Directors

Greetings, Pride Bands Alliance,

We are just over five months away from The Heart of It All! The Columbus Team has been very busy these past few weeks pulling everything together for this summer. Read below for some highlights of what we’ve been up to.

Guest Artistic Director Announcement

The Pride Bands Alliance 2024 Conference Artistic Team is thrilled to announce our Guest Concert Band Conductors for this July! With 18 outstanding applicants, the selection process was particularly difficult, but we are thrilled to work with the wonderful musicians listed below.

The Columbus 2024 Concert Band Guest Conductors are…

Dean McDowell (Palm Springs, CA) 

Dean McDowell has served as the Artistic Director of the Desert Winds Freedom Band for 17 years. Before moving to Palm Springs, Dean and his late husband Bob Montooth were among the founding leaders of the Capital Pride Band (now known as the Columbus Pride Bands). We are happy to welcome Dean home to Columbus as we host our first Pride Bands Alliance Conference. 

Timothy Norris (Seattle, WA) 

Timothy Norris is also an Ohio native and Artistic Director within Pride Bands Alliance. Tim currently serves as Interim Concert Band Music Director with Rainbow City Performing Arts in Seattle, Washington. He previously held the position of the Managing Artistic Director with that same organization, and led the Oak Lawn Band in Dallas, Texas from 2011-2016. 

Laura Joss (Cleveland, OH) 

Laura Joss currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Cleveland Pride Band in Cleveland, Ohio. Laura brings over 40 years of conducting and teaching experience ranging from the elementary level to higher education. She has led numerous honor bands and adult ensembles, and her inclusion in this conference will bring the Artistic Directors of the three Ohio Pride Bands to the same stage for the first time ever. 

Deborah Hirsch (Houston, TX)

Deborah Hirsch is in her eighth season as the Artistic Director of the Houston Pride Band, and previously served as the host Artistic Director for the 2021 “Bigger and Brighter” Pride Bands Alliance Conference in Houston. Deborah has 40 years of teaching experience and stays active through conducting symposia and by serving as a guest conductor and clinician for region and all-city bands around Texas. 

Manic Maxxie (Chicago, IL)

Manic Maxxie currently serves as the Artistic Director of The Lakeside Pride Pops Ensemble in Chicago, IL. Maxxie’s drag is inspired by gender fluidity, black women, and chaotic energy. She enjoys celebrating the work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists and is inspired by many of the scene’s most iconic black drag performers. She is an energetic and engaging musician who last guest conducted with the Pride Bands Alliance in 2022. 

Jon Gomez (Phoenix, AZ) 

Jon Gomez is the Artistic Director of the Arizona Wind Symphony in Phoenix, AZ and comes to us with an impressive resume of experience and accolades. Jon is currently an educational consultant and clinician for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education and serves on the Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee. Although he is not directly affiliated with a PBA ensemble, Jon was encouraged to apply by musicians who play in both the Arizona Wind Symphony and Desert Overture, and we think he will be an exceptional addition to our team.

We are also thrilled to announce our Guest Pep Band Conductors!

Charles Roth (Washington, DC)

Charles Roth is entering his seventh year leading the DC’s Different Drummers Marching Band. Under his leadership the band has significantly expanded its presence in and around our nation’s capital, leading to high profile performances including the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and a special appearance at the Naval Observatory, home of Vice President Kamala Harris. Charles is an Ohio native and previously lived in Columbus before moving to Washington DC.

Nicholes Nunley (Dallas, TX)

Nicholes Nunley is the Artistic Director of the Oak Lawn Band of Dallas, TX and guest conducted at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Dreams conference in Denver, CO. Nicholes is an active music educator and a graduate of the University of Texas – Austin where he studied conducting with Ryan Kelly and Jerry Junkin.

Our guest conductors represent the diversity of our organization and bring a wealth of knowledge and musicianship that will enrich the experience of our performers.

Registration Numbers

Call for Chamber Ensemble Composition

Our call for Chamber Ensemble Compositions is now open! We are calling on composers from within the Pride Bands Alliance to share your original chamber compositions with us to be performed at our Chamber Recital at the Ohio Statehouse.

Music selection will be decided based on ensemble make up and participation and will be selected by the individual ensembles. Please note expressing interest and submitting a piece is not confirmation your piece will be performed.

Click here to submit your composition

Big Band Auditions still open!

Auditions for the Big Band are open until April 1, 2024.

Our Big Band Artistic Team has begun work on music selection, and we hope to announce our big band tunes in our March update!

Click here to submit your audition.

Chamber Recital sign ups are still open

Interest forms for the Chamber Recital are still open through May 15th, 2024. Below is a link to the form:

Click here to sign up

Applications for the Chamber Recital will be open until May 15th, 2024. 

We currently have 10 ensembles signed up, and we only have room for a few more more small ensembles. Emails will be going out later this week to those who expressed interest in performing in the chamber ensemble to connect them with groups that may open spots. Our conference team will be working closely with the ensembles starting in the spring to confirm recital schedules and rehearsal spaces and times.