YOUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
BAND IN CINCINNATI
Hear Us! Join Us!
About Us:
We believe that all talent is worthy of development and that visible artistic expression improves our communities’ health
Dr. Jon Noworyta, Artistic Director
Jon Noworyta is the Artistic Director of the Queen City Freedom Band. He is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Instrumental Activities, and Educational Outreach at the University of Indianapolis. There, he administers all aspects of the woodwind, brass, and percussion area, teaches basic and advanced conducting and courses in music education, and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and opera. A versatile conductor who is equally comfortable with orchestras as wind and brass groups, Noworyta is the Director of the Crossroads Brass Band of Indianapolis, IN, and the former Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Ensembles under his direction have given notable local, state, national, and international performances, the most significant being Carnegie Hall in 2009, the 2010 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (rehearsal lab), and the 2012 Music for All National Festival. Noworyta has led groups at such legendary venues as Chicago’s Symphony Center, the Kennedy Center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Carnegie Hall.
Noworyta’s professional affiliations have included the NAFME, CBDNA, WASBE, NABBA, NBA, Pride Bands Alliance, GLSEN, the Conductors Guild, and the Indiana, Illinois, New York (NYSSMA) and Ohio Music Educators Associations. He currently sits on the Committee for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion for the North American Brass Band Association, is listed among the Who’s Who in America Educator’s Edition, and is a founding member and on the advisory team for the 32,000+ member “Band Director” Facebook group. Noworyta shared his personal-professional story in “Out In Front: Queer Identity and Visibility in the Wind Band,” a compilation of queer career and coming out stories included in the recent GIA publication The Horizon Leans Forward… stories of courage, strength, and triumph of underrepresented communities in the wind band field by Erik Kar Jun Leung.
A Western New York native, Noworyta holds degrees from Baldwin-Wallace University (BME), Northwestern University (MM), and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati (DMA). Additional study as a participant in conducting workshops at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Juilliard School, has given Noworyta the opportunity to work with the major conducting pedagogues in the field today.
Responsibilities
- Conduct rehearsals in the absence of the Music Director
- Conduct in performance, when possible
- Lead sectional rehearsals, as necessary
- Strong commitment to repertoire from diverse and underrepresented communities
- It is preferred that the assistant conductor of this group join the QCFB as a playing member
Qualifications
- Experience with community music organizations
- Engaging personality
- High musical standards
- Efficient rehearsal technique
- Flexibility of schedule
- Experience working with the board of nonprofit organization
- Though it is not required, members of the LGBTQ+ community are encouraged to apply
Joining the Band:
The Queen City Freedom Band (QCFB) is the LGBTQ+ concert band in Cincinnati, OH. Open to woodwinds, brass, and percussion players of all abilities and orientations – including allies – the QCFB places a high emphasis on community building through music. All are welcome, COME OUT and play!
Our season runs concurrent with the academic year, with concert cycles in the Fall, Spring, and early Summer. Rehearsals are Sundays 1:00-3:00 PM during the regular season in Elmwood Place. No auditions are required and music is sent electronically to print or download on a tablet. Membership dues are requested at $30 per season, but don’t let cost be a barrier! QCFB musicians are given the flexibility to commit to individual concert cycles.
If you are ready to sign up, please fill out this Membership Form! This will add you to our musicians mailing list. You only need to fill out this form once.
In addition to the membership form, players should sign up for each cycle within the season by completing the Rehearsal Attendance Form for that cycle, linked below. After you fill out this form, you will receive a link to the music for the corresponding cycle.
Rehearsals will be Sundays from 1-3, starting on September 8th, 2024.
The concert will be Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, at 3pm,at the Cincinnati Ballet Building, 1801 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
To join, fill out our Membership Form and this cycle’s Rehearsal Attendance Form.
Rehearsals will be Sundays 1-3, starting on January 26th, 2025.
The concert will be the weekend of Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, time and location TBA.
Rehearsals will be Sundays from 1-3, starting on April 27th, 2025.
The concert will be Sunday, June 8, 2025, time and location TBA.
Unsure about joining? Want to try it out first? Interested members are welcome to come try out a rehearsal. Send us an email with your name and instrument, and we’ll let you know when the next rehearsal is. Remember, all are welcome!
Concerts & Events
Join us on Sunday, November 3, at 3pm for our fall concert.
Featuring vocal soloist Alyssa Davis.
Location:
Cincinnati Ballet
1801 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
More information and concert poster to follow.
Join us and special guest Jim Obergefell the weekend of Sunday, March 23, for our spring concert.
Featuring trombone soloist Russ Zokaites, founder of the current iteration of the Queen City Freedom Band.
Also featuring the local debut of John and Jim by Dr. Viet Cuong. This piece was commissioned by the Columbus Pride Bands and the Queen City Freedom Band for the 2024 Pride Bands Alliance Annual Conference, celebrating Ohioans Jim Obergefell and John Arthur who brought marriage equality to the United States of America.
More information and concert poster to follow.
Join us Sunday, June 8, 2025, for our pride concert. More information and concert poster to follow.
Queen City Freedom Band Videos
This video of the QCFB was part of a larger video concert performance recorded in June, 2021.
You will see an introduction by our Artistic Director, Dr. Jon Noworyta, followed by our band performing two short band selections.
This video from features clips of our band rehearsing before our 2023 Pride concert.
of the QCFB was part of a larger Cincinnati Points of Pride series in June, 2023, andContact Us!
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Let us know if you have questions, or need a ride to rehearsal.