From the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection (and nonbinary nonsense, obviously), we want to wish everyone a Happy New Years!
Yet again, I (Ryan) have failed to remember to collaborate with our Creative Club to make sure these updates look nice and pretty, but this time a year wreaks havoc on ability to meet up!
In just 5 months, we will be welcoming you all to help us make Band Things Happen in Philadelphia! There’s been a lot going on as we get ready to welcome you.
Key Important Details
First off, all information you need should be available on our website: 2026.pridebands.org . If there’s something you want to see and don’t, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Registration: Make sure you are registered through eventbrite . If you’re getting this email directly, then we show you as registered. For liability reasons, all participants MUST be registered. If you need scholarship assistance, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Lodging: we STRONGLY recommend staying at our host hotel, Double Tree by Hilton Center City (room block link). Philadelphia, especially Center City, is VERY expensive. Weekend rates at this hotel are regularly close to $400 a night, while our rate is $209. There are lot of hotels in the area, but even chains that are typically budget properties are expensive. All of our events will be within a five minute walk of the host hotel. Additionally, with the conference happening over Memorial Day Weekend, AND the city gearing up to host major events all year for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (signed 9 blocks east of the host hotel), we expect even the usual discount options to be priced at a premium.
Shirts: While we will order a small number of extra shirts that can be purchased towards the end of the conference, we will not have a huge quantity of extras. If you want to ensure you get a shirt, make sure you purchase one on our registration page. If you have already registered and want to add a shirt, simply go through the registration process again, ONLY selecting a shirt. If you need to change the size of the shirt you selected, I believe you can change that by going into your registration details (or email [email protected]). Before we order name badges and shirts, we will be reaching out to confirm that the information we have is correct. This shirt will also be the marching/pep uniform shirt. If you are participating in the marching/pep event, make sure you purchase a shirt!
The Four Ensembles
There will be a total of four ensembles (plus small ensembles). All four will have a unique name fitting with Philadelphia’s spirit and the themes of the conference. The band names and music selections for the bands will be released in an email later this month.
There will be two concert bands. Each will consist of up to 150 participants (plus percussion). Both concert ensembles will play a commissioned piece. Both of these bands will be led by Philadelphia Freedom Band Artistic Director Hayley Varhol. Guest conductors are listed on our website along with a brief biography of each. The concert performance will be the final performance of the conference. We will be performing at Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts. This 2,500 seat venue is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra.
There will be jazz/swing band. This auditioned-based group will perform at a social event at the host hotel. Philadelphia Freedom Band Jazz Ensemble Director Esau Jones will lead this group.
Finally, there will be a marching/pep band. We are partnering with Disability Pride of Pennsylvania, a group that has been a very close partner with Philadelphia Freedom Band over the years. The parade portion is approximately 4 or 5 short city blocks on flat terrain, culminating with a stand and play at Disability Pride PA’s street festival. Philadelphia Freedom Band’s Drum Major, Robin Coyle, will lead this ensemble. There are no caps and no limitations to participating in this event. Uniform will be the conference t-shirt, so it is strongly encouraged for all participating to purchase a shirt through the registration site. Music for the pep band will be mostly artists from in and around Philadelphia. The full set list will be announced later this month, with music distributed in early April. Our color guard team is hard at work getting routines ready and will be distributing videos of the routines to those who have signed up for color guard.
We are also very excited to announce the lineup of our drum majors. In addition to Robin, we are excited to announce the following: Chris Houston (Philadelphia), Kenney Green (QBAC), Alynn Rouselle (Queen City), Melissa Terrell (Lakeside), Charles Roth (QBAC), Erin Frawley (Boston), Brandon Gray (Atlanta), and Colin Savoy (Gayly Forward) have all confirmed. We are in the process of getting headshots and biographies uploaded to the conference website.
Registration Stats
For the statistic nerds out there, we currently have 255 people registered (including guests). 220 people have registered for concert band, 132 people have registered for marching/pep band (12 people in color guard), and 34 people have signed up for the jazz/swing band. All full members of Pride Bands Alliance have at least one member registered with the exception of Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Guard (Orlando), and Rainbow Concert Band (Vancouver). That said, we have not had anyone register from any of the three new Bands in Formation (Nashville Harmony Pride Band, Fort Wayne Pride Bands, or Iowa Pride Bands)
Triangle Pride Band has the most registrants outside the host band at a whopping 28! DC’s Different Drummers (18), Atlanta (16), South Florida (14), and a three-way tie of Queer Big Apple Corp, San Francisco, and Rainbow City (Seattle) (12 each) round out the five member bands with the most participants!
Once again, we look forward to hosting you in May!! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected]!!
Yours in Pride,
Ryan Fitzpatrick
he/him/his
Conference Chair, Band Things Happen in Philadelphia 2026
Equipment Manager, Philadelphia Freedom Band.
[email protected]