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President's Message

Hey Pals,

Thank you for joining us for this evening's performance of the DC's Different Drummers Symphonic Band, under the batons of Anthony Conto Oakley and Jonathan Villegas. I am so delighted to be a part of this organization that has for over 40 years been a place for LGBTQ+ and ally musicians and performers to come together for fellowship, artistry, community, and visibility.

The Symphonic Band's Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 concerts are both themed "PRIDE & JOY!" -- a fitting way to build excitement ahead of World Pride 2025, hosted right here in Washington, D.C.! Be sure to look out for performances by our incredible Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Color and Winter Guards during the festivities. In fact, the Symphonic Band will hold the world premiere of a special piece commissioned by DCDD to honor and remember one of our own.

Tonight, we are thrilled to perform works from LGBTQ+ composers and artists from around the world, showcasing the incredible talent and unique voices within our community. From classical masterpieces to contemporary gems, our program promises to be a rainbow fo musical expression. Each piece has a special connection to our community, and we hope you might learn a bit more about our history when you hear a few familiar tunes. Join us as we explore the rich tapestry of music, inspired by trailblazers across our global LGBTQ+ community.

A special highlight of our Fall 2024 concert will be our collaboration with Victoria Kirby York, whose advocacy with the National Black Justice Coalition has inspired so many. Their presence will undoubtedly add an extra layer of excitement and significance to our performance of Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait."

Thank you again for supporting DC's Different Drummers. As we play each note with pride and you listen with joy, we invite you to join us in our musical celebration of love, identity, and the power of being true to oneself. Together, let's make this a year of harmony, both on and off the stage. If you are interested in connecting with DC's Different Drummers as a performer, volunteer, donor, or business partner, please do not hesitate to reach out. I hope to hear from you soon!

Yours,

Song List

Pride & Joy
A Year-Long Exploration of Works from our Global LGBTQ+ Community!

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Choose Joy                             
Randall Standridge

 

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Shenandoah                       
Omar Thomas

Conducted by Jonathan Villegas

 

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Bookmarks From Japan                            
Julie Giroux
I. Mount Fuji
II. Nihonbashi
III. The Great Wave Off Kanagawa
IV. Kinryuzan Temple in Asakusa
V. Evening Snow at Kambara
VI. Hakone

Guest Harpist Nadia Pessoa

 

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John and Jim                                    
Viet Cuong

 

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INTERMISSION
 

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Ritual Fire Dance                          
Manuel de Falla
Arr. Jay Bocook

Conducted by Jonathan Villegas
 

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Lincoln Portrait
Aaron Copland
Trans. Walter Beeler
Featuring Victoria Kirby York, Narrator
 

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Ave Maria                         
Franz Schubert
Arr. Frank Ticheli
 

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Mambo from West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein
Arr. Michael Sweeney

Conducted by Jonathan Villegas

Musicians

DC’s Different Drummers thanks the musicians below for their participation. Without their donations of their time, skill, and passion, this concert would not be possible.

 

Flute/Piccolo
Kevin Gilbert*
Mathew Harris
Neel Lingam
Tommy Nelson
Charlotte Volpe

Flute
Peter Botjer
Alexis Brazier
Liz Cameron
David Cho
Carrie Field
D. Fox
Amanda Hermans
Julie Hochzstein
Cris Jimenez
Olivia Kingsbury
Tripp Reed
Beth Root
Anton Spencer
Kelly Williams

Alto Flute
Carrie Field

Oboe
Anna Kegler
Louis Reichwein*

English Horn
Louis Reichwein*

Bassoon
Brian Curl
Keith Glaeske
Tim Schmeling

Bb Clarinet
Elena Akers
Virginia Burger
Alicia Cooperman
Brett Fitzgerald
Michelle Graff
Dorian Hawkins*
Matthew Jeans
KJ Miller
Kirby Pitchford
Bill Stroud
Gregory Tarker
Milo Taylor
Gina Viner
Carl Watson
Julia Wunning-Zimmer

Bass Clarinet
Abby Berman
Steven Grossenbacher
Bruce Herr, Jr.
Joel Steyer*

Alto Saxophone
Matthew Dawson
Amanda Kim
John Mulcahy
Kris Nelson
Dany Prince
J.D. Rackey

Tenor Saxophone
Sean Casey*
Keygan Miller
Zach Shields

Baritone Saxophone
Chad Koratich
Will Prater

Trumpet
Collin Bradley
Andrew Burk
Debra Falatko
Heather Geer
Matt Grieco
Alex Grisos
Amy Hein
Lexi Howard
Owen Jappen
Matthew McMahon
Jacob Nordman
Kyle Ruempler*
Dan Strobel
Mia Zwally

Horn
VL Buzdygon
Shelley Collins
Matt Gallo
Taylor Hendriksma
Todd Marino
Patrick O’Donnel*
Skylar Schirtzinger
Sidhant Wadhera
Jess Wozniak

Trombone
Ross Chapman
Lauren Drew
Jimmy Edwards*
Morgan Felix
Caroline George
Annie Jensen
Jeff Jung
Meral Kanik
Andrew Mathis
Brian O’Gara
Diana Pallone
Patrick Scanlan

Bass Trombone
Dan Calamari
Sasha LaPonsa

Euphonium
Chip Clapp
Emily Curry
Ben Dotson
Marisa Katz*
Alex Ostrander
Deirdre Rocha

Tuba
Jamie Davis
Jim Graves
Aras Troy
Larry Wile*

Percussion
Kensley Dunagan
Debra Falatko
Jeff Jung
John Ketterer*
Madi Lindsey
Yuki Ng
Matthew Pack
Aaron Park
Michael Polk
Jonathan Villegas

Piano
Jeff Jung

*Section Leader
 

DCDD Symphonic Band Leadership

Anthony Conto Oakley
Symphonic Band Artistic Director

Anthony has been the Artistic Director of the DC's Different Drummers Symphonic Band since Fall 2014. He is a music educator, leader, and arts advocate. His primary background is in instrumental music, both band and orchestra, but he also has a background in choral music.

Anthony is the Executive Director of the Maryland Music Educators Association, the professional association for music educators in Maryland. Before his current position, he spent 21 years as a high school arts administrator and band and orchestra director.

He has earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Music in Music Education and Conducting, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has been accepted to and attended enrichment programs at The Julliard School, the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of Maryland, and most recently, earned a graduate certificate in Executive Leadership in Arts and Culture Strategy with the University of Pennsylvania and National Arts Strategies.

Active in the music community of the region and state, Anthony has served on boards and as an officer for several professional music associations, as well as having served as a chair for various committees, events, and honor ensembles. He can also be found as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician, and from time to time, a freelance trumpet player.

As a clinician, Anthony has presented at the Maryland Music Educators Association Conference, the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, the Iowa Bandmasters Association Virtual Conference, and the Pride Bands Alliance Conference.

Anthony is a native Washingtonian/Marylander. He was born and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he currently lives today. He and his husband Kevin, along with their dog, Faye, enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, going for walks in their community, and supporting local restaurants and businesses.

Jonathan Villegas
Symphonic Band Assistant Director

Jonathan has been the Assistant Director of the DCDD Symphonic Band since November 2023. They believe in the value of educating future generations of musicians and leaders, by creating music that can inspire and connect with local communities through the engagement of this art form and its intersectional potential. As a conductor, cellist, actor, clinician, and educator, their mission is to continue transforming the world through all art forms by using our musical gifts to help cultivate lasting relationships that will develop opportunities to continue uplifting historically underserved communities.

In addition to working with DCDD, Jonathan is the Wind Leader of the Training Ensemble with the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra, Assistant Conductor to the Peabody Preparatory Wind Band, as well as the Wind Ensembles Director at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids program. Additionally, Jonathan serves as the new conductor for the Boston-based contemporary Pierrot ensemble, "Der Gestanke." After spending the last few years performing in Portland, Oregon as the Assistant Conductor to the Portland State University Orchestra, Bands, and Opera, Jonathan now resides in Baltimore, where he is pursuing a Master of Music in Wind Conducting at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University.

From the desire to be a well-informed and multi-faceted symphonic conductor, Jonathan hopes to use their expertise as a cellist, background as a teacher and clinician to youth string orchestras and concert bands, recent experience conducting multiple types of college ensembles, and his education at Peabody to expand their skillsets with the art of wind literature to enhance their conducting. As a proud Latinx and queer performer and educator, Jonathan aims to share their diverse and dynamic background to continue to connect all aspects of music with one another, whilst being an ambitious and positive leader.

 

Guest Narrator

Tonight, the DCDD Symphonic Band is honored to welcome Victoria Kirby York as the guest narrator for "Lincoln Portrait", by Aaron Copland. Victoria is the Director of Public Policy and Programs for the National Black Justice Collective. In this capacity, she is responsible for leading the organization’s advocacy and action strategies to maintain NBJC’s position as a recognized public-policy leader especially concerning Black trans, queer, and non-binary/non-conforming people, families, and communities as well as other multiple marginalized communities.  

Since 2003, NBJC has been America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS through coalition building, federal policy change, research, and education. Our mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma. Now known as the National Black Justice Collective, NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity.

For more information on NBJC, visit their website at https://nbjc.org/

Guest Harpist

Tonight, the DCDD Symphonic Band is honored to welcome Nadia Pessoa as the guest harpist for "Bookmarks from Japan" by Julie Giroux. Nadia is an award-winning, multi-genre harpist, composer, and educator whose career includes performances throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China. She has appeared as a soloist at Lincoln Center, with the Lima Symphony Orchestra, and with the Fort Collins Symphony, where she made her debut playing the Ginastera Concerto in 2005.

Known for being a versatile and expressive performer, she is the recipient of awards from the National Society of Arts and Letters, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the American Harp Society. She was first introduced to the harp at the age of two and a half by her father, and grew up performing and writing music on the South American folk harp.

Nadia holds a Bachelor of Music and Performer Diploma at Indiana University, where she studied with Susann McDonald, and attended the University of Michigan for a Master of Music on a teaching fellowship, where she was student of Lynne Aspnes, and winner of the concerto competition.

An active member of D.C.’s musical community for over 15 years, Nadia can be regularly seen performing with The Washington Ballet, the Alexandria Symphony, the Children’s Chorus of Washington, and as guest Principal Harp with the Baltimore Symphony, the Richmond Symphony, the National Philharmonic, the American Pops Orchestra, and other ensembles. She has been a featured performer at Washington’s most notable venues, including the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Washington National Cathedral, the State Department, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and The White House.

You can learn ore about Nadia by visiting her website: https://www.nadiapessoa.com/

Donors

DC’s Different Drummers (DCDD) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and we rely on the generous support of people like you to keep our music and performances alive. Whether you’re a long-time concertgoer or this is your first time attending one of our performances, you’ve already taken an important step in supporting DCDD! Your presence means the world to us, and any additional generosity you offer helps us continue creating and sharing music with our community.

We are immensely grateful to the donors who have made this performance possible through contributions over the past 12 months. Your support allows us to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive artistic community, and we couldn’t do it without you. 

Founder's Circle ($1,000 +)

Sarah Billmaier	Anthony Conto Oakley
Kristina Drye	Bruce Herr, Jr. and Adam Sulewski
David E. McBee	Timothy Schmeling
Pamela Toman	Kim Webb

 

Conductor's Circle ($500 - $999)

Meredith Carpenter	Debra Falatko
Dorian Hawkins	Chad Koratich
Korey Rothman	Kyle Ruempler
Francois Tur

 

Drummer's Circle ($250 - $499)

Emily Dieker	Kevin Gilbert
Steven Grossenbacher	Marc Martinez
Thomas Nelson

 

Friends ($100 - $249)

James Apistolas	K. Scott Barker
Bryan Biesecker	Lucinda Biesecker
Ian M. Bradt	Elizabeth Cameron
Sean Casey	Maureen Cavanaugh
Stephen Cherry	Clifford Clapp
Jason Damaso and Mario Font	Lauren Drew
James Edwards	Lauren English-Mezzino
Jerry Fernandez	James Graves
Robert Heim	Laura Henderson
Amy Hirst	Mike Imbesi
Janet Larsen	Steven Lewis
Andrew Mathis	Patrick O'Donnel
K. Sarah Ostrach	Zachary Parker
Bryan Patterson	Stacy and Juan Serrano Ragsdale
Chris Raitzyk	Thomas Reed III
Louis Reichwein	Andrew Runkle
Anton Spencer	Jeffrey Sturman
Mark Swope and George Vogel	Blake Velde
Jeremy Vera	Carl Watson
Larry Wile	Laura Whitbeck

 

Donors (< $100)

Barry Ames	Michael Anderson and Juan Rojas
Virginia Burger	Chloe Carlson
Carrie Field	D. Fox
Charlie Goedeke	Jenna Goosen
Jessalyn Grant-Bier	Matthew Grieco
Karsten Halusa	Marisa Katz
Brianna Lyons	Cheryl Morden
Felix Pangelinan	Rochelle Ruffer
Christa Ventresca	Charlotte Volpe
Maurice Watkins

 

Thank you also to the following organizations and businesses for their support:

Benevity	Combined Federal Campaign
DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities	D.C. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
East City Bookshop	Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C.
Network for Good	Our Change Foundation
Shaw's Tavern

 

DC's Different Drummers is partially funded by a grant from the D.C. Commission for the Arts and Humanities. We thank them for their generous support. 

If you would like to make a contribution, you may visit www.dcdd.org/donate .

DC's Different Drummers also participates in the Combined Federal Campaign - our number is #93755.

Finally, if you are a business owner and would like to become a DCDD Business Partner, contact development@dcdd.org.

Sponsors