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COVID-19 Guidelines & Information
We are doing our best to provide a low risk environment for this conference, but we understand that COVID-19 is still a very real threat. For our complete COVID-19 policy, as well as that of our host hotel, please visit this page.
The "Bigger and Brighter" Concert is a celebration of Houston as a city and what makes us great. As an echo of "The Stars at Night" Concert, this year's theme acknowledges the past but ultimately pushes forward to celebrate how Houston has bounced back and grown in the face of adversity. We want to celebrate and put a beacon on Houston as a great place to visit, and as an even better place to call home. Between the musicians and guest conductors from around the country, to the great music selections, its a concert that you won't want to miss.
Main Concert: $18
The conference's main stage concert.
Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center
Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 7:00PM
Pep Band and Color Guard Performance: $0
A free outdoor band and color guard performance
Hess Patio Deck at Discovery Green.
Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 12:30PM
Deborah Hirsch is in her sixth season as an Artistic Director of the Houston Pride Band. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Deborah grew up around drum corps through her dad. Her first instrument was violin, but she eventually picked up the clarinet and saxophone in high school. She loves having the opportunity to be on the "other side of the baton" playing clarinet from time to time with the Houston Pride Band and at Pride Bands Alliance conferences. Deborah was thrilled to have had the chance to be part of the LGBA band at World Pride in NYC in 2019.
Deborah graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and music education and earned a master’s degree in music at Texas A&M University-Commerce. She also served in the 312th Army Band in Lawrence, Kansas before moving to Texas.
Retiring after 37 years as a band director in Pasadena, Texas, Deborah enjoyed a successful career in public education. Deborah was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2014.
Deborah is an active clinician, judge and consultant across the state and is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Women Band Directors International and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.
Deborah and her wife, Teresa, enjoy theater, travel and cruising and are moms to Annie, the miniature schnauzer and Snickerdoodle, the cat.
David Lea has been an Artistic Director for the Houston Pride Band since 2018. He joined the ensemble in 2016 and has previously served as trumpet section leader. When he’s not conducting, he continues to play in the trumpet section and is a founding member of Brass Tax, an HPB brass quintet.
David earned bachelor's degrees from Texas A&M and Michigan State University in Psychology and Music Education, respectively. He earned his Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas. He has performed and participated in conducting symposiums with Drs. Kevin Sedatole and Craig Kirchoff, Dr. Matthew Westage, Michael Votta and Frank Battisti.
David is currently the Director of Bands at Michael R. Null Middle School in Northeast Houston. His bands have enjoyed successes at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Evaluations, and local and regional festivals. As a private trumpet teacher, his students have made Michigan All-state, earned first divisions at regional and state solo & ensemble contests, and had the honor of participating in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. His professional memberships include Texas Music Educators and Texas Bandmasters Associations. David is an outspoken advocate for his LGBT+ students and was honored to support them by serving as the founding faculty advisor for a student organization focused on inclusion, acceptance, and community.
Derek Hebert is in his seventh season as the Artistic Director of Denver's Mile High Freedom Bands. He joined the MHFB trombone section in 2012, took over as bandleader of MHFB Swing in 2013, and was appointed the organization's Artistic Director in spring 2014. Derek directs MHFB Winds and participates in each of MHFB's ensembles and events. He also serves on several band committees, as an ex-officio member of the board of directors, and as the bands' Technology Coordinator.
Derek earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with honors from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a Master of Music degree in conducting from Colorado State University where he studied with Professor Wes Kenney and Dr. Rebecca Phillips.
Derek is also the Director of Bands and Performing Arts Chair for The Academy in Westminster, Colorado. Since 2013, Academy Bands have grown exponentially and frequently receive the highest marks at music festivals across the state, scoring in the top 10% of high school bands from across Colorado. His students are routinely selected for Colorado All-State ensembles in band, orchestra, and jazz, as well as several local honor ensembles.
Derek and his husband Brad traded the humid swamps of their native Louisiana for the mountains of Colorado in 2006. Brad can often be found in MHFB's percussion section and involved in lots of creative endeavors for the bands. A little suburb north of Denver is home, where they live with their kitty Winifred.
A National Board Certified Teacher of Instrumental Music, Dr. Joseph Accuardi-Gilliam has lived in the Portland area since birth. He studied music at Portland State University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Music, and his Master of Education degrees; and, more recently, Joseph earned his doctorate in education at Lewis & Clark college. After a successful career as a high school band director, Dr. Accuardi-Gilliam is currently serving as an administrator at Skyview High School in the Vancouver Public Schools. An accomplished tuba player, Joseph has performed with the Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, SW Washington Wind Symphony, Oregon Symphonic Band, Newport Symphony Orchestra, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Portland Festival Symphony and the Oregon Ballet Theatre.
Dr. Accuardi-Gilliam studied instrumental conducting with Dr. William Tuttle at Portland State University; and has attended conducting symposia with renowned wind band conductors Jerry Junkin, Richard Floyd, Dr. Allen McMurray, and Dr. Rodney Winther. Now beginning his seventeenth year as the Artistic Director of the Rose City Pride Bands, Joseph has also guest conducted the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, Portland Wind Symphony, and was a featured conductor at the Lesbian and Gay Band’s Association National Conference in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys winemaking, photography, winter sports and traveling with his family.
A Sergeant and Clarinetist in the United States Army Reserve, SGT Craig Bunch is currently the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Hudson's Bay High School and Jason Lee Middle School in Vancouver, Washington. He began his musical journey following the footsteps of his high school choir director by pursing a Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Warner Pacific University. After spending some time in the classroom, SGT Bunch later earned a Master of Music Education from Boston University. This is SGT Bunch's 13th year teaching and he loves it more each year. SGT Bunch strongly believes in 'music for all' and uses the rehearsal hall as a pathway for community-building, advocacy for diverse student populations, and cultivating student leadership.
SGT Bunch attended the American Band College and studied under the baton of composers and conductors such as Frank Tichelli, Anthony Maiello, Johan de Meij, Paula Crider, and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. SGT Bunch is also an active member of the Lower Columbia River Music Educators Association, Technology in Music Education, and the National Association for Music Education.
Around Portland, Oregon, SGT Bunch has performed with the Rose City Wind Symphony, Portland Wind Symphony, Oregon Symphonic Band, Southwest Washington Wind Symphony, and is the former Artistic Director for Rose City Swing. SGT Bunch currently serves as the Associate Conductor for the Rose City Wind Symphony and performs with the 204th Army Reserve Band.
In his spare time, he enjoys going on adventures with his partner Sam and their dogs Boomer and Mango, gardening, making tamales, eating tacos, making salsa, drinking coffee, and enjoying dessert. Always dessert.
Jamal Duncan joined the faculty of the Arizona State University in Fall of 2020 as Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting. His primary responsibilities are conducting the Arizona State University Wind Symphony and teaching classes in the conducting curriculum. A native of Flint, Michigan, Duncan received the doctor of musical arts in wind conducting and a master of music in wind conducting degrees from Michigan State University where he studied under the direction of Kevin L. Sedatole.
Prior to arriving to Tempe, Duncan was the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He served as Director or the Hogwild Pep Band, Assistant Director of the Razorback Marching Band, conductor of the symphonic band, and co-conductor of the wind symphony and concert band. He also taught courses in Instrumental Conducting.
An advocate of new Music, Duncan conducted the University of Arkansas New Music Ensemble. Duncan is actively involved in the commissioning and performance of works on the cutting edge of contemporary concert music.
Duncan received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Michigan with a dual emphasis in clarinet performance and music education. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and the College Band Directors National Association. He holds honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.
Beth Bronk, Associate Professor, is the Director of Bands at Texas Lutheran University, where she teaches conducting, instrumental music education courses, and directs the TLU Bands. Ms. Bronk earned her Bachelor of Music, Performance Certificate, and Texas Teaching Certification at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas. Before joining the faculty at Texas Lutheran University, she completed eighteen years of public school teaching and administration. Beth Bronk is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer.
M. Todd Dock Jr. is Director of Bands at Diboll ISD. He serves as administrative head of the instrumental program, and serves as conductor of the high school Wind Symphony and Diboll Lumberjack Marching Band. Mr. Dock additionally oversees the activities and curriculum of the Junior High Band. Currently in his 9th year of teaching, he came to Diboll in July of 2017 following five years of consulting and teaching as Assistant Director in Nacogdoches, Texas. Under the direction of Mr. Dock the Lumberjack band has grown in size and in recognition. The marching band has received consecutive First Divisions at Marching Contest and the high school Wind Symphony helped to bring the first consecutive Sweepstakes award in the history of the program in the spring of 2021.
Mr. Dock is a graduate of Center, Texas and grew up in the music programs of the Texas public schools. He earned the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Texas A&M University, College Station. While at A&M Mr. Dock participated in the nationally famous "Fightin'Texas Aggie Band", Wind Symphony, Aggieland Orchestra, and the pep band "Hallabaloo." As a member of the Corps of Cadets he held positions as the Corp Bugler, Section Officer, and Platoon Leader for the Ross Volunteers, the honor guard to the Governor of Texas. Mr. Dock holds a Masters in Music Education from Lamar University, Beaumont Texas. Here Mr. Dock was a student of Dr. Scott Deppe, Director of Bands, Lamar University, (Ret). While at Lamar, Mr. Dock was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society for Music. Mr. Dock also holds memberships with the Texas Music Educators Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and the National Association of Military Marching Bands.
Chris Foster is in his fifth year as the Marching/Pep Band Conductor for the Houston Pride Band. He earned a bachelors degree in music from the University of Houston where he was a conductor for the Cougar Brass pep band and was mentored in marching/pep band methods by Robert Mayes and David Bertman. He also holds degrees in higher education administration, mass communication, and Spanish.
Chris has been a tuba player in the Houston Pride Band since 2013, and is a member of the BrassTax brass quintet. He has served on the HPB Board of Directors for 6 years, including two years as President, and currently is serving as Vice President. For the 2021 Pride Bands Alliance conference, he is filling the role of music librarian, a position he also held for the 2017 conference.
Professionally, Chris is the Curriculum Manager for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He is also the national chairperson for the Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority Alumni Association and is a past President of the University of Houston Band Alumni Association. A lifelong Houstonian, he enjoys travel, cooking, college football, watching Star Trek, and miniature golf.
Your conference team has secured The Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston as our venue for the "Bigger and Brighter" concert of the 2021 Pride Bands Alliance Conference, hosted by the Houston Pride Band.
The Wortham Theater Center was built at the height of the 1980's oil bust and funded entirely by the private sector. What's more, the 437,500-square foot facility was completed four months ahead of schedule and $5 million under budget, a testament to Houston's trademark ability to get things done. At the time, the Wortham Center was the first major opera house built in the U.S. in more than 25 years.
The Wortham Center is home to the Houston Ballet and the Houston Grand Opera. Since its opening in 1987, Wortham has entertained more than 8 million people.
The Wortham Center features two theaters, the larger Alice & George Brown Theater, and the more intimate Lillie & Roy Cullen Theater where the Pride Bands Alliance conference participants will perform. The Cullen Theater hosts smaller opera and ballet productions and serves other arts groups such as Da Camera of Houston and the Society for the Performing Arts. The theater seats 683 audience members on the Orchestra Level while the Mezzanine (balcony) Level seats an additional 417 seats, including wheelchair access on both levels.
The Wortham Center is located at 501 Texas Avenue.
Nancy Ford found her voice as an out lesbian in 1977, and hasn't shut up about it since.
LGBT media has published Nancy's work since 1988, including her award-winning column, WHAT A WORLD, which entertains and inspires readers wherever it appears. As an interviewer, she has engaged high-profile personalities including Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, Betty Buckley, Harvey Fierstein, Bea Arthur, Judy Collins, Melissa Etheridge, and countless other newsmakers and celebrities with wit and sensitivity.
Onstage, Nancy has performed in theatres, nightclubs, galleries, churches, and dives throughout the U.S. since 1982, appearing with Kate Clinton, Jason Stuart, Judy Tenuta, Janene Garofalo, Lady Bunny, Janis Ian, and innumerable LGBTQ icons. During that time she has helped raise funds for innumerable non-profit groups supporting community charities.
A long-time supporter of the Houston Pride Band, Nancy currently works as a freelance editor and copywriter for a widely diverse bank of clients including the Montrose Star, an internationally distributed oil & gas magazine, wholesale carpet manufacturers, men's underpants designers, and others.
She congratulates the band on its 44th season and finally bringing the Pride Bands Alliance national conference to Houston.
Born and raised in Coventry in the U.K., St. John came to the U.S. to attend graduate school. He has a B.A. with honours in French from the University of Liverpool and an M.A. in French from the University of Georgia. He taught in the UGA Comparative Literature department while working on his Ph.D., but left academia before completing his dissertation.
He has worked for top U.S. public TV and radio stations for more than twenty years including as host of the award-winning book show Cover to Cover for the Georgia Public Broadcasting radio network, as classical music director for KUHF/88.7FM and KUHA/91.7FM, and as Arts & Culture Director for Houston Public Media (TV 8, News 88.7 & Classical 91.7) where he hosted the daily radio arts show The Front Row; the Opera Cheat Sheet podcast; the Houston Symphony weekly radio broadcasts; and various TV arts programs including the Houston Symphony Season Announcements and the Skyline Sessions. He was also a cast member of Manor of Speaking, TV 8's Emmy award-winning syndicated Downton Abbey after-show.
He is the longtime host of the Houston Grand Opera Guild's Opera Night Live series and has appeared on stage as host or narrator with the Houston Symphony; Texas Music Festival Orchestra; Houston Youth Symphony; Houston Heights Orchestra; Symphony North of Houston; Valdosta (GA) Symphony; Piedmont College Orchestra; WindSync; METdance; Queensbury Theatre; and Lone Star Lyric Theatre, among others.
Section Leaders will be announced closer to the conference date.
Music download links coming soon...
Music download links coming soon...
(713) 550-0658