The tagline "Many Arts, One Heart" tells the story of the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps. Since its formation in 1979, this band of brothers and sisters has been making music and art for audiences across the United States and Canada.

The recipient of dozens of awards‹from Manhattan Heritage of Pride's coveted Best in March Award to Rochester's little-known but equally appreciated Ruby Slipper Award, the Big Apple Corps Marching Band has been seen by millions in such diverse appearances as a parade to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's Inauguration, a performance in a church basement in Brooklyn, concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, and the New York City Veteran's Day Parade.

The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band has shared the stage with such luminaries as Harvey Fierstein, Rita Moreno, Liz Smith, Arthur Laurents, and the New York City Gay Men¹s Chorus. But not only has the band performed with the famous, it has performed for the famous: The Big Apple Corps¹ music has been heard by two American presidents and by countless celebrities along many parade-route miles. A proud founding member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA), the Big Apple Corps has performed from coast-to-coast with the LGBA massed band, featuring the combined membership of 24 bands from the United States, Canada, and Australia.

With a membership of over 100 musicians, dancers, color guard members, and Band-Aides, the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps will enter its 30th season next year. The pride of New York City, the band plans to go on lifting the hearts of audiences in concert halls and along parade routes for years to come.

History

In 1979, ten years after the Stonewall riots, New York City's gay band was born. At the time it was only the third such band in the United States. The spark for this novel idea came at the same time as the First National March on Washington, D.C. As New Yorkers prepared for the rally, two gay musicians, Nancy Corporon and Bob Wolff, had a dream of their own, inspired by Jon Sims, a San Francisco musician credited with founding the gay band movement. With Jon's help, Nancy and Bob were soon posting flyers all over Christopher Street asking musicians to get their instruments out of the closet and join the ranks of a very special new band. Only one year later, that band would become the first openly gay and lesbian musical organization to perform at Lincoln Center.

Today, The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps is New York City's premier symphonic and marching band. As a symphonic band, we perform several concerts each year in venues ranging from local schools and churches to Alice Tully Hall. Larger concerts are often performed in conjunction with the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, and have included performances at the Paramount Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, the 2000 March on Washington, both inaugurations of President Clinton, and Gay Games events around the world. In addition, band members often get together to create small chamber ensembles, including flute trios, woodwind quintets, brass choirs, and saxophone ensembles.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide the lesbian and gay community with a supportive and friendly environment for musical and artistic expression and, through performance, to promote social acceptance, equality and harmony for all. We welcome interested individuals of all orientations to come see for themselves how artistic dedication within a social environment can create quality entertainment that pleases, educates and challenges us to grow.

Organization