Come play with us!

We're always looking for new people to join in on the fun and the music in our many ensembles.

Whether you're an advanced musician or you're a little "rusty," come out and give us a try.

No auditions, no obligation.

Who can join?
Membership is open to all people with basic musical proficiency who support the goals of Lakeside Pride. City or suburbs, male or female, gay or straight, music professional or avid enthusiast, we believe the diversity of our members is an important part of Lakeside Pride's success.

How do I join?
For the Freedom Band, Symphonic Band, or Color Guard it's easy: just show up! Contact us first and we'll fill you in on our rehearsal schedule, or feel free to take a peek at our rehearsal calendar and just come on out. No auditions, no obligation, and we accept new members throughout the year. For the Symphony Orchestra just follow this link.

Which instruments are needed?
We welcome players on all instruments. However, currently we are especially looking for the following:

• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Flute
• Clarinet
• Percussion (including timpani / mallets)
• Violin, viola, cello, bass (for orchestra)

What skill level is required?
The difficulty of the music varies among our ensembles, so persons of all skill levels are able to participate. Whether you're looking for a musical challenge or just a laid-back place to play your horn, we think you'll find something in Lakeside Pride to your liking.

How much time is involved?
Not that much: a two-hour rehearsal once a week, plus the occasional dress rehearsal and performance. We have holidays off and vacations in between each season. We expect members to make as many weekly rehearsals as they reasonably can, but our flexible attendance policy has options available if this presents a problem. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any concerns about your schedule.

What about choral groups?
We're often asked if Lakeside Pride sponsors vocal ensembles. Chicago is fortunate to have at least three established choral organizations to serve the LGBT community, several of which we've had the pleasure of collaborating with. For this reason we do not see a need to expand beyond instrumental music. For a listing of vocal groups in the city, please see our links section.