Member Information

PFB is excited to announce our Fall 2025 Concert Band season! 

*We are asking all members to communicate their plans with us for the 2025-2026 season so that we may anticipate any personnel needs well in advance – please click here to fill out the survey.

*Check out the Fall 2025 Member Info Packet here!

REHEARSAL FORMAT

• 2 ensembles: 

  • Symphonic Band (SB) - the larger “original recipe” ensemble, no audition required

  • Wind Ensemble (WE) - the smaller ensemble, audition required (see details below)

• Rehearsals are on a 2-week alternating schedule, where:

  • “A week” starts with SB at 7:00 and switches to WE after announcements at 8:40

  • “B week” starts with WE at 7:00 and switches to SB after announcements at 8:40

  • Rotating sectionals will take place from 8-10 as needed (detailed schedule TBD)

SCHEDULE

• Monday, August 11, 2025 | Wind Ensemble audition materials posted (see details below)

  • *Only those interested in the smaller group, Wind Ensemble, must audition. Anyone not interested in auditioning or not placed in WE is encouraged to join our Symphonic Band or Jazz Ensemble!

• Monday, September 8, 2025 | Wind Ensemble auditions due via Google Form (see details below)

• Monday, September 29, 2025 7 - 9 PM | Fall 2025 Season Opener (Merz Hall, Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St)

  • All concert band musicians in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble should attend

• Monday, October 6, 2025 7 - 10 PM | First "A Week" Rehearsal

• Friday, December 5, 2025 in evening | Dress Rehearsal for Winter Concert

• Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 4 PM | Winter Concert - Concert Bands & Jazz Ensemble (Old First Reformed United Church of Christ, 151 N 4th St)

WIND ENSEMBLE AUDITION DETAILS

*A reminder that no audition is necessary to participate in PFB’s Symphonic Band or Jazz Band this fall, BUT – if you’re looking for that extra little push, here it is! 

• Audition materials are now available here. 

• [CLOSED AS OF 9/8] To submit your recording(s), please complete the Fall 2025 Wind Ensemble Audition form by Monday, September 8, 2025. All files will be anonymized by a non-auditioning board member and rated with a standard rubric. You will hear about placements before the season opener.

• Anyone not placing or not choosing to audition for the Wind Ensemble will be warmly welcomed to the Symphonic Band!  

Mark your calendar for our Spring 2026 season! 

SCHEDULE

• Friday, March 27, 2026 | Dress Rehearsal for Spring Concert

• Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 4 PM | Spring Concert (Episcopal Cathedral, 19 S 38th St)

• SAVE THE DATE: May 20 - May 25, 2026 | Pride Bands Alliance 2026 Conference (Doubletree by Hilton, 237 S Broad St)

  • Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Pride Bands Alliance 2026 Concert (Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce) 

Starting with our Fall 2024 season, we now have TWO concert bands: Symphonic Band AND a new Wind Ensemble! 

What's the difference between the two bands? Read on to find out:

SYMPHONIC BAND DETAILS

• Anyone can join in Fall OR Spring 

• No audition required, but music literacy is a prerequisite

• No cap on size or part duplication (yet striving for balance!) 

• Primarily Medium to Medium-Advanced musical difficulty 

• Expectation that musical concepts will be taught and reinforced during rehearsal time

• 2-3 sectionals per season

WIND ENSEMBLE DETAILS 

• Recorded audition required for placement & seating 

• Auditions to be held in Fall only (no re-audition required for Spring season) 

• Striving for minimal part duplication (except where typically called for)

• Primarily Medium-Advanced to Advanced musical difficulty

• Greater expectation of independent music mastery

• 1-2 sectionals per season

• There may be circumstances where a musician is asked to double in both ensembles, at the discretion of the AD

  • • • That person would not necessarily need to participate for 3 full hours every week

• We anticipate that all current percussionists will be needed in both ensembles, at least for certain pieces

  • • • At this time, no audition is required for percussionists

      • The schedule allows for percussionists to participate from 8-10 weekly, straddling the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble timeframes

• Because of the reduced rehearsal time, individual parts, fewer sectionals, and accelerated rehearsal pace, weekly attendance is especially important

Many of our concerts conclude with a joint performance of the combined “Megaband”! 

DRESS REHEARSALS

• Our dress rehearsals are generally held the day before each concert. 

• Depending on the concert location, prior to the dress rehearsal there will also be equipment transportation and set up required, for which we always need volunteers.

• You do not have to wear your concert outfit for the dress rehearsal! 

CONCERT DRESS 

• Our concert attire is all black, often with some kind of relevant flair that's tied in to that concert's theme (e.g. nature-themed accessories like animal ears or flower crowns for our nature themed concert). 

RAFFLES & PROGRAM ADS

• At our concerts, we raffle off donated items to raise money for the band. This can includes anything from handmade goods, gift baskets, show tickets, gift certificates, artwork, and more! 

  • You can purchase or make items, or reach out to your favorite local business to see if they might be willing to donate an item. If you have raffle items to donate, please email the item name, description, and donor to raffles@philadelphiafreedomband.com. 

• We also welcome businesses, organizations, or individuals to purchase concert program ads. The ad spaces can be used to advertise a business, to shout out a loved one or friend, or spread any message desired (within reason)!

• Download a sample form letter to request raffle items or program ads from organizations and businesses here.  

*Check out the Fall 2025 Member Info Packet here!

SCHEDULE

• Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 7 PM | Fall 2025 Jazz Ensemble Season Opener

  • ALL instruments are welcome! Special NEED for drummers, bassists, keyboard/piano players, tenor saxes, and trumpets.

• Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 4 PM | Winter Concert - Concert Bands & Jazz Ensemble (Old First Reformed United Church of Christ, 151 N 4th St)

• SAVE THE DATE: May 20 - May 25, 2026 | Pride Bands Alliance 2026 Conference (Doubletree by Hilton, 237 S Broad St) 

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE JAZZ ENSEMBLE? 

If you're a new member, please fill out our form on the Join Us page to sign up for emails. Then, download the Band app (or head to the website), join our Jazz Ensemble group, and RSVP for rehearsals. 

• The Band app/website is where you can ask questions, read updates from band leadership, RSVP for rehearsals & events, build community, and gain access to the download link for each season's sheet music.

• Open the invite link on your smartphone or any browser to join the group: https://band.us/n/a8a1Ad49yaH8h

REHEARSALS THURSDAY NIGHTS @ 7 - 9:30 PM (2111 Sansom Street, Philadelphia PA, 19103)

• Rehearsals are held at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in Center City, Merz Hall, accessible via the 2111 Sansom St. entrance (see photo below).

  • Convenient to multiple SEPTA bus, train, and trolleys routes.

  • There is metered parking and a parking garage that our rehearsal venue will validate at a rate of $12, card only.

• Contact us with any accessibility/accommodation questions or requests. 

• Please keep our practice space cleaner than you found it!

• Please review our Code of Conduct.

• If you have to miss a practice, please contact Jazz Ensemble Director Esau Jones to let him know. 

• Stay home if you are not feeling well. We strongly recommend remaining up-to-date on your vaccines, and doing at-home COVID-19 testing before attending each practice. We also have split masks you can use; they are optional at practices. Our COVID-19 policy can be found here. Help keep our community safe! 

WHAT TO BRING

1) Instrument, mutes, etc. (If you don't have an instrument but are interested in playing, you can contact us at info@philadelphiafreedomband.com, as we may have an instrument available for you to borrow.)

2) Printed or tablet music for your part, if possible.

• The music link is pinned to the top of the feed in the Band app (see above).

• Please reach out to PFB's librarians, David Boughman & Aaron Scarberry, at librarian@philadelphiafreedomband.com with any issues with the music. 

• Note: Part distribution on the first day is not an exact science; new folks are a surprise we anticipate with delight every season! Please print a part that you’re comfortable playing. If we need to shift things later on, we trust you’ll be flexible! We will have some extra prints of music for those who arrive without.

3) Earplugs, especially if you are sensitive to loudness. 

4) Water bottle, snacks, & anything else you might need!

DRESS REHEARSALS

• Our dress rehearsals are generally held the day before each concert. 

• Depending on the concert location, prior to the dress rehearsal there will also be equipment transportation and set up required, for which we always need volunteers.

• You do not have to wear your concert outfit for the dress rehearsal! 

CONCERT DRESS 

• Our concert attire is all black, often with some kind of relevant flair that's tied in to that concert's theme (e.g. nature-themed accessories like animal ears or flower crowns for our nature themed concert). 

RAFFLES & PROGRAM ADS

• At our concerts, we raffle off donated items to raise money for the band. This can includes anything from handmade goods, gift baskets, show tickets, gift certificates, artwork, and more! 

  • You can purchase or make items, or reach out to your favorite local business to see if they might be willing to donate an item. If you have raffle items to donate, please email the item name, description, and donor to raffles@philadelphiafreedomband.com. 

• We also welcome businesses, organizations, or individuals to purchase concert program ads. The ad spaces can be used to advertise a business, to shout out a loved one or friend, or spread any message desired (within reason)!

• Download a sample form letter to request raffle items or program ads from organizations and businesses here.  

*Check out the Fall 2025 Member Info Packet here!

INTERESTED IN JOINING MARCHING BAND OR COLOR GUARD?

If you're a new member, please fill out our form on the Join Us page to sign up for emails. Then, download the Band app (or head to the website), join our Jazz Ensemble group, and RSVP for rehearsals. 

• Interested in joining Color Guard? Fill out our interest form here.

• The Band app/website is where you can ask questions, read updates from band leadership, RSVP for rehearsals & events, build community, and gain access to the download link for each season's sheet music.

• Open the invite link on your smartphone or any browser to join the group: https://band.us/n/a5a2A748y6geo

REHEARSAL INFO

Weekend Band Camps in Spring + Periodic Rehearsals Monday nights @ 7 - 10 PM (2111 Sansom Street, Philadelphia PA, 19103, unless otherwise noted)

*See our events calendar for upcoming rehearsal dates

• Unless otherwise noted, Marching Band rehearsals are held at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in Center City, Merz Hall, accessible via the 2111 Sansom St. entrance (see photo below).

  • Convenient to multiple SEPTA bus, train, and trolleys routes.

  • There is metered parking and a parking garage that our rehearsal venue will validate at a rate of $12, card only.

• Color Guard rehearsals are held outdoors on Monday nights; join the Band app for more details.  

• Contact us with any accessibility/accommodation questions or requests. 

• Please keep our practice space cleaner than you found it!

• Please review our Code of Conduct.

• Stay home if you are not feeling well. We strongly recommend remaining up-to-date on your vaccines, and doing at-home COVID-19 testing before attending each practice. We also have split masks you can use; they are optional at practices. Our COVID-19 policy can be found here. Help keep our community safe! 

WHAT TO BRING

1) Instrument, mutes, etc. (If you don't have an instrument but are interested in playing, you can contact us at info@philadelphiafreedomband.com, as we may have an instrument available for you to borrow.)

2) Printed or tablet music for your part, if possible.

• The music link is pinned to the top of the feed in the Band app (see above).

• Please reach out to PFB's librarians, David Boughman & Aaron Scarberry, at librarian@philadelphiafreedomband.com with any issues with the music. 

• Note: Part distribution on the first day is not an exact science; new folks are a surprise we anticipate with delight every season! Please print a part that you’re comfortable playing. If we need to shift things later on, we trust you’ll be flexible! We will have some extra prints of music for those who arrive without.

3) Earplugs, especially if you are sensitive to loudness. 

4) Water bottle, snacks, & anything else you might need!

PERFORMANCES

There are generally 2 types of marching band performances: parades (involving actual marching) and stand-and-plays (stationary performances). 

All marching band performances are posted in the Band app. Please RSVP on there so we know how many musicians and color guard members plan to attend each event! 

BAND AIDES

We can always use friends and family (or non-marching band PFB members) to serve as "band aides," which includes helping to carry the PFB banner or flags, distributing water during parades, carrying or wheeling along gear, driving a follow car, and/or just marching with us and waving to the crowd!

UNIFORMS

• Marching Band: PFB overlay (provided)

  • Can be worn over whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in. For certain more formal events, marching band leadership may ask everyone to wear the same color shirt or otherwise try to match a bit more; but especially for pride events, we welcome you to wear whatever you want! 

  • If you don't have an overlay, please reach out to our marching band manager to get set up with one.

• Color Guard: PFB color guard uniform top (provided)

  • Can be worn with whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in. 

  • Please connect with the color guard coordinators to arrange getting your uniform. 

• We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather – i.e. wear something that will keep you cool for a summer gig, or something that will keep you warm for a winter gig. 

• Comfortable walking shoes are a must! 

Head to our Leadership page for details and contact info for our current leadership team. Please reach out to info@philadelphiafreedomband.com with any general questions.

Board of Directors

The Philadelphia Freedom Band Board of Directors helps lead the band and coordinate events throughout the year. 

If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or needs, please feel free to reach out to any member of the board (see this page for current board names, email addresses, and focus areas). 

Monthly board meetings are open to all members. The band holds an annual all-member meeting each November to approve any major changes, present progress from the past year, solicit feedback from members, and elect the next year's board; all dues-paying members of the band are encouraged to attend and vote at the meeting.

Artistic Leadership & Marching Band Leadership

PFB's Artistic Director and Assistant Artistic Director provide artistic leadership for the concert bands, both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Our Jazz Ensemble Director steers and conducts the Jazz Ensemble. The Marching Band is led by our Drum Major and Assistant Drum Major, with assistance from the Color Guard Coordinators. 

Additional Staff

PFB's additional staff members provide critical support for the organization's operations.

• Contact PFB's librarians (librarian@philadelphiafreedomband.com) with questions about accessing music, issues downloading, etc.

• Reach out to our marching band manager (glenn@philadelphiafreedomband.com) with questions about marching event logistics. 

The Philadelphia Freedom Band is funded by our donors and members like you. Dues help us pay for music, rehearsal space, our concert venues, and other operating costs to the band.  

Member Dues

Members are asked to pay separately for each ensemble in which they participate:

• Concert Band $100

• Jazz Band $50

• Marching Band $25

For voting purposes at the all-member meeting, active members will be considered any member who pays dues for one or more ensemble (including those who take advantage of our Angel Fund or other dues assistance plans).

Preferred Payment Method: Give Lively 

• Pay with card or bank transfer via this page

• Email treasurer@philadelphiafreedomband.com to let us know you paid, especially if the name/email you used doesn't match the name/email we have on file for you.

Alternate (Non-Preferred) Ways to Pay

While we would prefer you pay via Give Lively at the link above, we can also accept these alternate methods if needed:

• PayPal to treasurer@philadelphiafreedomband.com as a 'Friends or Family' transaction (free for both user and receiver)

• Check or cash – see current treasurer, Sheryl Hess (clarinet), at rehearsal

Dues Assistance

If you have any trouble paying your dues, please talk to our treasurer and we can work something out (e.g. payment plans; use of our Angel Fund which contains funds set aside to help pay membership dues; etc.). Finances are not a barrier to participation!

Want to get PFB events to show up automatically in your calendar? Follow the instructions below to get PFB’s member calendar added to your personal calendar.

Instructions for Adding Calendars

• Google Calendar (*use steps under "Use a link to add a public calendar"): https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/37100 

• Outlook (*use steps under "Subscribe to a calendar"): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-or-subscribe-to-a-calendar-in-outlook-com-or-outlook-on-the-web-cff1429c-5af6-41ec-a5b4-74f2c278e98c 

PFB Member Calendar

The PFB member calendar has the event call times and locations, so you'll know when to show up and where! It also includes internal social events, board meetings, and other member-only events. 

• COPY AND PASTE THIS URL to add the PFB Members Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_897580b62c267efba1122442adf1f80f20d2051e8ac006289f10a089993d5582%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics 

Public Events Calendar

We also have an external-facing calendar of events that you can share with friends and family who want to check out our upcoming performances, or may want to join rehearsals. This calendar lists the actual performance times (NOT call times) for our audience. 

• COPY AND PASTE this URL to add the external PFB event calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/create%40philadelphiafreedomband.com/public/basic.ics 

• OR if using Google Calendar, simply subscribe to the calendar of create@philadelphiafreedomband.com

We are a small organization and rely on volunteers to keep the band running, so every little bit helps. Band members are encouraged to volunteer their time and skills when possible, but not required. 

There are multiple ways that individuals or businesses or can support the band, including monetary or in-kind donations, purchasing concert program ads, sponsoring our marching band with a car decal, volunteering with us, and more! 

Donate

Support the band with monetary or in-kind donations. Find more info here.

Volunteer

Want to help the band out? We can always use more folks to help keep the band running smoothly. Some examples of how you can get involved include:

• Getting to rehearsal early and helping to set up the space, or staying late to put the chairs away

• Serving as a band aide for the marching band by carrying water or our banner, or driving our follow vehicle

• Promoting the band and our events by putting up flyers around your neighborhood, sharing on social media, etc.

• Volunteering to work on grant writing, event planning, graphic design, etc. 

• Helping to transport marching band instruments and gear in your car

• Reaching out to potential sponsors or raffle donors

• Renting a van to transport percussion equipment and stands on concert weekends

• And so much more!

If you have any suggestions or questions, please send an email to info@philadelphiafreedomband.com. 

Have some ideas about or experience in fundraising, social media, event planning, grant writing, or anything else? Consider joining one of our task teams:

• • • "Creative Club" – our creative team handling graphic design, social media, marketing/advertising, website management, etc.

      • • Email the Creative Club at create@philadelphiafreedomband.com 

    • 2026 Pride Bands Alliance Conference Planning Committee 

      • • Join Band app here

        • Email Committee Co-Chair Ryan Fitzpatrick with any questions (conference@philadelphiafreedomband.com) 

    • Grant Writing Team

      • • Email info@philadelphiafreedomband.com to get involved!

    • Clubs that could be – we don’t have any formalized clubs or committees in these areas, but if we have enough interest, the board can help you get set up to host a club of your own! Potential clubs include:

      • • Social Activities Club: Organize social events outside of rehearsals and performances to connect with band friends!

        • Website Club: Work together with the Creative Club to build an updated PFB website.

        • Finance/Accounting Club: Work with the treasurer to understand PFB’s finances, including how all the transactions in Quickbooks work; and help ensure all the government compliance rules are being followed. Yes, this can be fun!

        • Merch Club: Work together with the Creative Club to research and expand our merch offerings and build an online merch store. 

        • Fundraising Club: Help find donors, grants, and fundraising opportunities to reach our goals, whether for PFB as a whole or for specific projects like the 2026 Conference. 

And consider running for the board! Monthly board meetings are open to all members, so feel free to come see how they work – and reach out to any current or past board members with any questions (see this page for current board names and email addresses). 

Raffles

At our concerts, we raffle off donated items to raise money for the band. This can includes anything from handmade goods, gift baskets, show tickets, gift certificates, artwork, and more! 

You can purchase or make items, or reach out to your favorite local business to see if they might be willing to donate an item. Download a sample form letter to request raffle items or program ads from organizations and businesses here.  

If you have raffle items to donate, please email the item name, description, and donor to raffles@philadelphiafreedomband.com. 

Sponsorship

Share the sponsorship brochure with businesses or individuals who might be interested via email, DM, phone, or in person. Printed copies will be available at rehearsals, or you can print out your own copies. 

A form letter you can use to reach out to potential sponsors can be found here.

We welcome businesses, organizations, or individuals to purchase concert program ads. The ad spaces can be used to advertise a business, to shout out a loved one or friend, or spread any message desired (within reason)!

There is also an option to sponsor the marching band with a car decal.