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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE 4 community Twenty Years Later, Still Swingin’ FEBRUARY 18, 2011 ► 17 Portland’s gay and lesbian band celebrates its 20th anniversary Most folks leave their school bands and “1 saw that flier, and I’m like, ‘Cool, I’m call never look back, trading a hobby and its short ing these people.’ I didn’t even hesitate,” ex falls— the stench of old brass, the spit valves, plains Brenda Dworschak, an original member the ridicule— for whatever adulthood can and trumpet player. “I wasn’t sure there was go offer. ing to he anyone at the other end of the phone But some never let go o f those days in the because it was a real tattered flier. I was like, hand room. For many, that experience came ‘Has this been up here forever?’” when as sexual minorities, they needed a place Dworschak called and went to the rehearsal, to belong and an outlet to express themselves. and after walking in on a Bible study, she found After all, band nerds and gays were pretty close the hand’s first members, a handful of people, on the high school totem pole. including Nance. These people fill those hand-sized holes in Nance has since passed away, but Dworschak their hearts with an after-work activity that’s says the inspiration for the band came from a been around for 20 years now— performing in desire to play music for the gay community. the Rose City Gay Freedom Band. The hand Nance also saw an opportunity to represent will celebrate its anniversary at a special concert Portland in the Lesbian and Gay Band Asso in March. ciation, now a worldwide organization, “The band gets me out of the left brain and Dworschak adds. into the right brain,” says O ther local hands at the Melinda Muller, who plays “When you start to play time were also “sort of hoity- oboe. “And it’s a positive toity,” says Muller, who is the together, it’s that common outlet for people who are band’s general manager. gay to do musical events thread of bringing people Nance’s hand gave musicians and try to give back to the of all skill levels a chance to together because they have gay community.” perform, she explains. The band, a nonprofit of a passion for music.” The band is not strictly for about 90 members, plays gays, either. It’s for LGBTQ_ — BRENDA DWORSCHAK, concerts, private events and TRUMPET PLAYER musicians “and f riends,” says most notably, the Gay Pride Muller. Several straight peo parade. Marchers say that performing in the ple play in the band and rotate in to fill parade is a goosebumps-evoking experience, positions. and it adds a necessary facet to Portland’s Gay “It wasn’t my first experience with the gay Pride. community,” shares Greg Hcnion, a drummer, “How do you have a parade without a hand?” who is straight. “The music community is more Muller asks. of an arts, liberal community. You find fewer musicians that have a problem with sexual ori entation. I just wanted an opportunity to play.” Why a gay band? The idea for a gay band was conceived by Chuck Nance in 1991. He posted fliers around Give me some show tunes! town for rehearsals held in a room at the M et W hen the band started, much o f its music ropolitan Community Church of Portland. was admittedly campy. It’s a gay band, members SUBMITTED PHOTO BY AARON SPENCER note, the music should be fun. But that changed six years ago when a new artistic director, Joe Accuardi, came aboard. A professional with the Portland Columbia Sym phony Orchestra, Accuardi wanted the band to do more than show tunes. “People think of us as more o f a high school, popsy kind of a band. That’s what people would assume,” Accuardi says. “I like a more tradi tional route for the symphonic band because it’s more true to the art form.” This new direction bothered some band members. The new music was too difficult for some. For others, it was boring. Some members walked out. “Whenever you have a group, you’re going to have two different things pulling,” Hcnion says, “members that want to he challenged and im prove and members that just want to have fun.” The band has since shown marked improve ment. It plays at the Oregon Adult Band Festi val, where organizers describe it is one o f the best. It has attracted better musicians, like those from the Oregon Symphony. The R C G FB ’s Pride Marching Band performs in 2010’s Gay Pride parade. But the band still has spots for those who want kitsch. The Rose City Gay Freedom Band has transformed into an umbrella group com prising three bands: the Portland Gay Sym phonic Band, for classical music; Rose City Swing, a small swing band; and the Pride Marching Band, a more casual group. The bands plan to improve their skills and grow their membership; all three groups will perform at the anniversary concert in March. “It sometimes sends shivers when you see it,” Dworschak says. “W hen you start to play to gether, it’s that common thread o f bringing people together because they have a passion for music.” I§! T h e R ose C it y G ay F reed o m 2 0 th A n niversary Concert is Sat., M arch 5, S p .m .; K a u l A uditorium a t R eed College, 3 2 0 3 S E Woodstock B lvd .; S 12 in advance, S I 5 cash or check only a t the door; rcgjh.org. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 A PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV OR AT RISK WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PARTNERS. ^ PARTNERSHIP PROJECT SUPPORTING HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR PREVENTION WWW.OHSU EDU/PARTNERSHIP For a confidential intake, contact 503-230-1202 or — 1-877-795-7700 (Toll Free) I 11 OREGON j AI I i i i PROJECT io T h  n i Y in .* p x ' H Certified Public Accountants SUPPORTING HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP Leo Bottaini Jim Gallucci Ed O’Hanlon [BOTTA 1N ffGXlIljUCCI] Services available statewide SERVICIOS DISPONIBLES EN ESPANOL &SCI ENCE ^ UNIVERSITY • • • • • Income Tax Preparation Estate Planning Compilations, Reviews & Audits Bookkeeping Services Business Valuations 503 - 233-1133 www.bgocpas.com info@bgocpas.com 1500 NE Irving St.( Suite 440 Portland, OR 97232-4208
