The Lakeside Pride Symphony Orchestra is committed to building itself into a first class orchestra that strengthens the appreciation and enjoyment of classical music in the GLBT community. Through our ambitious concert series at the Center on Halsted, we bring the best of classical music to delighted audiences in the heart of Boystown.

OUR SEASON

October 11, 2011

Rossini: Overture to The Barber of Seville

Brahms: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 – 6, WoO 1

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92

November 15, 2011

Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Saint-Saëns: Suite Algérienne, Opus 60

Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Opus 97 (“Rhenish”)

December 13, 2011

Holidays on Halsted!

Handel: Sinfonia from Messiah

Bizet: L'Arléssiene Suite No. 1

Humperdinck: Overture to Hänsel und Gretel

Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride

Tchaikovsky: Suite from The Nutcracker

Leroy Anderson: A Christmas Festival

February 14, 2012

An Evening of Romance
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty, Act I. Valse

Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana

Bizet: Carmen Suite

Prokofiev: Suite No. 2 from Romeo and Juliet

March 27, 2012

Weber: Overture to Oberon

Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin

Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Opus 88

May 8, 2012

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Opus 80

Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Opus 11

Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, K. 543

June 9, 2012

Music of Gay Composers

Brochu: Commission for the LPSO

Copland: Rodeo

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Opus 64

ABOUT US

The Lakeside Pride Symphony Orchestra is an artistically self-governing ensemble; all orchestra members regularly participate in discussions to determine the artistic direction of the group (by choosing programs for upcoming concerts, for example), and actively maintain high standards of musical excellence through regular reviews and critical discussions of the orchestra's performances. The LPSO auditions its own members.

Gregory Hughes, principal conductor

Josh Devitt-Mather, assistant conductor

Kameron Robinson, operations coordinator

Paul Williams, music librarian

Want to join the LPSO? Click on any vacant seat for more information about how to audition.

Gregory Hughes is the principal conductor of the Lakeside Pride Symphony Orchestra. Joining Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles in January 2010, he was appointed by the Board of Directors to revitalize and expand the organization's orchestra program. Under Mr. Hughes' direction the Lakeside Pride Orchestra was reformed into the Lakeside Pride Symphony Orchestra, and debuted in December 2010 with an ambitious concert series designed to promote classical music appreciation in the LGBT community. The 2011-2012 Concert Season marks the orchestra's second season under his leadership.

Mr. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Music from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, where he studied conducting with Daniel Sommerville and Paul Wiens, musicology with Johann Buis, and bassoon with Jonathan Saylor and Susan Nigro. In the Spring of 2005 he became the youngest student ever to guest conduct the Wheaton College Symphonic Band, and was the only student to ever guest conduct that ensemble on more than one occasion. He was a participant at the Conductors Institute of South Carolina in 2006, where he studied with Donald Portnoy, Paul Vermel, and distinguished composer Samuel Jones. Mr. Hughes was named Honors Conductor for the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra during the ensemble's 2007-2008 season. He also was the founding principal conductor for the Wheaton Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra devoted to promoting arts appreciation. In Spring 2008, Mr. Hughes received the honor of conducting in a masterclass taught by eminent American conductor John Nelson.

A fervent supporter of arts appreciation, Mr. Hughes' personal mission is to share his love and enjoyment of classical music with the community through teaching, performing, and advocacy.