San Francisco – July 8, 2008. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB) announced that Dr. Roberto-Juan González and the Band’s Board of Directors mutually agreed to not renew his contract. Dr. González steps down as artistic director this month.
The decision allows Dr. González to focus on other professional commitments. In addition to his responsibilities as SFLGFB Artistic Director this past year, Dr. González serves as professor of music at Napa Valley College, where a new music facility is being completed to house his programs. In December, Dr. González has been engaged to conduct the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and the Iwanuma Beethoven Chorale, which he conducted previously in 1999. A frequent presenter of classic films at COPIA’s Friday Night Flicks series, Dr. González also regularly performs at the Octavia Lounge in San Francisco and is preparing a cabaret show to be premiered later this year.
“I’ve enjoyed the many musical experiences and thrilled, screaming audiences we have shared these last 15 months,” says Dr. González of his time with the Band. “I still remain enthusiastic about Jon Reed Sims’ original vision for LGBT music groups.”
The ninth conductor of the SFLGFB in 30 years, Dr. González joined SFLGFB as artistic director at the beginning of its 30th anniversary season last June. Dr. González holds a doctorate in instrumental conducting and organ from the School of Music at Ball State University in Muncie , IN , and earned his bachelor’s degree in music at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico at San Germán, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1976. During his tenure as artistic director, the Band featured a range of professional musicians as part of its long-running Community Concert Series, recreated its debut in the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade for the Gus Van Sant film “Milk” and celebrated its 30th anniversary in performance with San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco at the 2008 Pride
Concert.
“We’ve appreciated Roberto’s leadership this past year and wish him the best of luck as he focuses on other pursuits,” says Richard Gibson, president of the SFLGFB Board of Directors. “Our last conductor, Jadine Louie, conducted the Band for 10 years, but that was very unusual. A shorter term is much more the norm in this busy world.”
“Of course, this means the hunt for our next artistic director begins,” Gibson adds. “We’re forming the search committee now.”
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Founded in 1978, the year the rainbow flag was created and Harvey Milk rode in the Freedom Day Parade as supervisor, the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band & Twirling Corps claimed an American symbol for the newly emerging Gay community as it struggled for its civil rights. The Band quickly became a symbol of pride for the Gay community and played music to build understanding between its community and the larger world. Thirty years after its first march up Market Street as the first openly gay music group in the world, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (as it is known today) continues to make music as a symbol of LGBTQ pride. Named the official band of the City of San Francisco in 2003 and the Most Absolutely Fabulous contingent of the 2006 San Francisco Pride Parade, the Band continues to march in
city parades, pride festivals and July 4th celebrations. Its Dance-Along Nutcracker® has been featured in national media such as the Wall Street Journal, The Ladies’ Home Journal, Good Morning, America , the Today Show and on HG-TV. After three decades, the Band continues to be one of the busiest and most vibrant community bands in the country. (www.sflgfb.org)
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