San Francisco Pride Band Names Carlos McMillan Fuentes as Third BIPOC Commission Program Recipient

The San Francisco Pride Band proudly announces the selection of Carlos McMillan Fuentes as the third recipient of the Band’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) Commission Program. Fuentes’s composition, “American Epic” will premiere at the band’s upcoming spring concert “…On a High Note” on June 8, 2025 at 3pm at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. 

When asked about his inspiration for writing “American Epic”, Fuentes says, “Each section of music is inspired by a genre which shaped and defined American culture during that time. Disco, punk rock, hip-hop, and even protest songs make an appearance, as well as stretches of music in-between which represent the band overcoming strife, and its evolution and growth. The main themes represent the members of the band, and their reappearance throughout symbolizes their resilience.

Regarding the selection of Carlos McMillan Fuentes and his composition, Artistic Director Pete Nowlen says, “I’ve been lucky enough to premiere several of his works and to feature him as a soloist several times. He is a captivating performer and a masterful composer. Carlos has created a fantastic new work for the concert. His understanding and mastery of popular music genres combined with his elite training in classic genres allows him to weave a fantastic evocation of the band’s history.”

Fuentes will also be a featured soloist for a separate and well-known piece. Nowlen continues, “It’s always a privilege to present “Rhapsody in Blue” – the beloved American masterpiece composed by George Gershwin – but even more so when featuring such a dynamic performer as Carlos.”

San Francisco Pride Band Board President Chris Hewes added, “We’re all so excited to bring the full scope of Carlos’s artistry to our San Francisco Pride Band audience. “American Epic” is a wonderful composition that we are proud to perform, as it vividly paints a picture of the Band through the decades, from the inception of the band in 1978 to present day.”

Carlos McMillan Fuentes (b. 1988) is a pianist, composer, singer-songwriter, music educator, and accompanist currently serving as Keyboardist and Composer In Residence for Symphony d’Oro, Rancho Cordova. He has appeared in concert with many Sacramento-area orchestras, choirs, and performing arts organizations and has written hundreds of compositions, from solo piano to choir and full orchestra. In 2018, his piano-clarinet duo “Carlos & Brennen” won First Prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards, and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition with a focus in Piano Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2011.

First announced in 2020, the San Francisco Pride Band’s BIPOC Commission Program was created to bring awareness and visibility to BIPOC composers and to increase the diversity of voices composing music for wind band. The program has been funded through generous individual donations made at the organization’s annual Dance-Along Nutcracker® and other fundraising events.

The first phase of the BIPOC Commission Program culminated on May 20, 2023 when composer Roger Zare’s commissioned work “Awakening” had its world premiere during the Band’s “Spotlight on the 70s” gala concert in Oakland. As part of the second phase of the BIPOC Commission Program from 2023-2024, Composer-In-Residence Mattea Williams premiered her first commissioned work, “Cobra” on March 9, 2024, while her second composition, “One Magnificent Life” premiered on September 29, 2024. Read more about Zare and Williams on the Band’s ‘News & Updates’ page at sfprideband.org/press-and-media/news-and-updates/.

For more information about Carlos McMillan Fuentes, visit www.cmfuentesmusic.com/

To be informed of updates on the San Francisco Pride Band BIPOC Commission Program, sign up for the Band’s email list at sfprideband.org/signup/. To learn more about how you can support the mission of the Official Band of San Francisco, visit sfprideband.org/support-the-band.