Spotlight on Animation & Video Games

Napa Valley Wine Train Gourmet Dinner Package

Seven Night Stay at the Big Island, Hawaii

Patron Level Membership to Frameline, SF’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Emcee

Donna Sachet is thrilled to join the Band once again for Spotlight on Animation & Video Games! For 30 years, Donna has called San Francisco home and has dedicated her talents as a singer, emcee, fundraiser, hostess, producer, and activist to the LGBTQ+ Community. As the 30th elected Empress of San Francisco, she has appeared all over the city and in locations in this country, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is proud to have sung the National Anthem for the SF Giants at AT&T Park in 2009, co-anchored the live television coverage of the SF Pride Parade for over 15 years, starred in the weekly Sunday’s a Drag show at the Starlight Room for nearly 15 years, hosted her holiday cabaret Songs of the Season for 25 years, and co-chaired Pride Brunch with Gary Virginia for 24 years. Donna currently writes a bi-weekly column Donna’s Chronicles for the Bay Times and serves as President of the Rainbow Honor Walk Board of Directors.

Emcee

Leanne Borghesi is a vivid and fierce New York / San Francisco performing artist who has performed in major Concert Halls, Theaters and Nightclub Venues with her vocals a Brassy & Comedic style that has entertained audiences over the past 2 decades. Hailed “A Sumptuous Feast of Outrageousness” Leanne has performed lead roles in musical theater, supporting roles in feature films and created original cabaret and nightclub acts (Showbroads, Mood Swings, Borghesi’s Back, Lush, Bazazz, and Divalicious) that have garnered her sold-out shows and recently the recipient of the 2022 New York Manhattan Association of Cabaret MAC Award for Best “Musical Comedy Performer” for the pandammit nightclub hit “Borghesi’s Back!”. Leanne has worked with the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Freedom band frequently in the past. She has sung at the Pink Triangle Dedication for the past 10 years, as well as numerous previous Spotlight concerts and fundraisers.

Artistic Director

Appointed Artistic Director of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band in August 2013, Pete Nowlen is one of Northern California’s busiest musicians. Faculty at both Sacramento State and UC Davis, where he is Director of Concert Bands, Pete currently holds Artistic Director posts with Camerata California Chamber Choir, the Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra and is Artistic Advisor of Music in the Mountains in Nevada County, California. He is the founder and driving force behind Sacramento’s VITA Academy, dedicated to revitalizing classical music through innovative community and audience engagement and school music programs. Other conducting credits includes the Sacramento, Auburn, Camellia, UCD and CSUS Symphonies and more than a dozen major productions ranging from La bohéme to the Rocky Horror Show.

Guest Performer

Ken Dulay is an up-and-coming countertenor currently in his senior year at California State University, Sacramento, with a double-major in Vocal Performance and Music Education at Sacramento State. Ken’s journey with music started at a very young age, both singing and eventually playing the organ for the church he was part of at the time. Now, Ken performs with groups in the Sacramento area including Camerata California, the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, and with Music in the Mountains under the direction of Ryan Murray. Ken was awarded first place at the 2022 Robert S. Dinsmore Opera Competition and was also the recipient of the Sacramento Renaissance Society Scholarship and the Shields-Baugh Music Scholarship for the 2022 school year. Aside from his love for performing, he has a passion for teaching new musicians and is a private voice and piano instructor at the Natomas School of Music.