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Banded together for a cause Annual Music Issue Local instrumentalists join forces to create first-ever season of Charlotte Pride Band by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com Charlotte Pride Band artistic director Mark Taylor leads the ensemble is rehearsal in the Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte's fellowship hall. Chit-chatting with two friends from the Gay Men's Chorus of Charlotte last summer, Mark Taylor found himself immersed in con versation, unsurprisingly, about music. Taylor, a singer with the chorus since 2007, also had a passion for instrumental music and was looking to join a community band. Now, less than a year after its first organizational meeting, Taylor finds him self volunteering as artistic director of the Charlotte Pride Band. Over a dozen strong, the band is a gath ering of LGBT and ally music enthusiasts who hope to play for the masses, diversify the local LGBT arts scene and raise broader awareness of the LGBT community in the greater Charlotte area. "We were really lucky that when we came up with the idea last October we started pushing for a general interest meeting to see how the community would respond," Taylor said. "We scheduled an organizational meeting for January, so that gave us three months to recruit, so to speak. When we had the organizational meeting we had a surprising turnout of 15- 20 people." Nearly all of those originally interested in the idea have stuck around, Taylor said. The group is ramping up for an ambitious 2010/2011 season. "We already have a season announced," Taylor said. "We are going to do four primary concerts this year, two in the fall and two in the spring. The theme this year is 'Starstruck' and we are going to try to really appeal more to a general audience." Each concert will be tied together under a common motif, showcasing music from television and entertainment. On Oct. 23, Charlotte Pride Band presents "Please Stand By," with music from popular televi sion series and shows. In December, the Band will perform with the Gay Men's Chorus of Charlotte for a holiday concert. In March, they'll return with "Exit, Stage Left," showcasing music from Broadway's biggest hit shows. Finally, in May, they'll present "The Casting Couch" with classic music from the big screen. Tommy Hudnall, Charlotte Pride Band's president and marketing director, said he'd never been heavily involved in Charlotte's lo cal LGBT arts scene until the band's creation. "I had seen the Gay Men's Chorus perform but that was really it and even that wasn't a regular thing," he said. As he has gotten more involved, Hudnall said he's gotten to know a vibrant and dy namic community. The local gay arts scene, he said, is strong: "I think the gay community is really mobilizing to;nake more of an impact. Mark has met with a lot of leaders from all the [LGBT] arts groups and there's really a sense of fostering collaboration between one another." That spirit of collaboration is something on which Charlotte Pride Band is looking to capitalize. In addi tion to their regular season, the band will perform for, partner with and give back to other community groups including the upcoming Sing forthe Cure concert benefiting the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure. "As a non-profit it is important and we need to give back," Hudnall said. The group, whose official IRS tax-exempt status is still pending, hopes that once they do receive the non-profit status they'll be able to grow and expand through bigger business and community support. In the end, Hudnall said Charlotte Pride Band's mission boils down to a simple yet strong goal: "We want to promote the value of the LGBT community to the greater community.":: — Get more information about the Charlotte Pride Band, including upcoming concert dates, times and locations at charlotteprideband.org. I Q/27/] 0 Hartigan's, c w/Jill Austin Band and : One Night Stand M*' it, nc WWW,AMYftRCX>Mt .COM The Hide-A-Way 405 £ Baskins Road - Rock Hill, SC 803-328-6630 Thursdays Welcome Back Winthrop Students! $2 Beer - $3 Mixed Drinks - Free Pool! Fridays Drag King Kingdom Featuring some of the Best and Up and Coming Drag Kings in the Southeast! Show at Midnight! Saturdays Makaylah DuShot's Drag Show Review! With some of the best entertainers in SC and NC! Show at Midnight! As always, your host every Friday and Saturday night will be the loudest mouth of the south, Makaylah DuShot! Save the Date! The Miss Hide-A-Way Pageant will be held on October 9th! Details coming soon! The Rainbow Iri 4376 Charlotte Hwy-Lake Wylie, SC 803-831-0093 Thursdays 1 -2-3 Karaoke Party with DJ Reid! $ 1 Draft - $2 Shooters - $3 Wells Fridays Roxy's Rainbow Review! Hosted by Roxy C. Moorecox Shows at IQPM and Midnigbtl Amazing entertainers e;; Saturdays Dance YourA$$ Off Conti Amy Broome - Sept. 1 StHs Drag King Court - Sept. 25? NEW OPERATING HO HAPPY HOUR 4-8 WEi OPEN SATURDAY41 Celebrqt _ SundaySdd&ut FeataringpeVon www.TheRainbowi The Hide-A-Way and The Rainbow in would like to congratulate Emory j^nr o&^lnning the title of Miss North Carolina America 2010! Find us both on Facebook and Myi Sept. 4-17.2010 qnotes 15
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