I am originally from the Boston area and had played oboe and saxophone with various orchestras and wind ensembles in Massachusetts. I moved to San Francisco for a dream job in water resources planning in 2015 after finishing grad school. A quick Google search for community bands in San Francisco brought up the San Francisco Pride Band, which quickly became my main musical outlet, social life, and grounding in the greater LGBTQ+ community. I love playing with the Marching and Pep Bands and seeing the faces of excited kids and adults alike when they experience our performances. I even picked up a new instrument — the glockenspiel (essentially a metal xylophone)!
What I value the most is that the San Francisco Pride Band is a historic institution that has had a real impact on the City of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. When you join, you become part of a band family spanning decades, with members from all walks of life.
Chris Hewes
