Mid America Freedom Band (MAFB), Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ and allied community band, played host to nearly 300 Lesbian & Gay Band Association conference-goers at the end of May. MAFB wrapped up its 15th season with performances by conference attendees at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Looking ahead, the organization has a new executive director, Joyce Anderson Downing, who began her job July 2, and rehearsals for the 16th season start in August.
The theme was for the May 23-27 conference was “There’s No Place Like Home,” and music selections for the finale concert in Helzberg Hall were Heartland-inspired.
MAFB board chair Jessie Riggins said that rehearsals took place at the host hotel, the Intercontinental on the Plaza. Each member band sends two delegates to the meetings where bylaw changes, officer elections and other decisions happen. The delegates also vote on host cities for the annual conferences. Orlando, Florida, will be the 2019 host city.
Riggins said the May 25 performance at the Richard J. Stern Opera Center served as the Conference Gala. Both the LGBA 2018 Jazz Band and MAFB’s Mighty Mo Combo performed. The event was catered by Jack Stack Barbecue.
“We had wonderful volunteers from the City of Fountains Sisters helping us run the event,” Riggins said.
Reflecting on the experience, Riggins said, “The overall camaraderie is always a wonderful aspect of LGBA conferences, and lifelong friends are made at these events. Knowing that our team worked hard and facilitated the wonderful experience had by all participants filled me with pride for Mid America Freedom Band and Kansas City.”
Mid America Freedom Band Season 16
The season’s theme will be “Colors,” which, the website states, “stems from those of the LGBT rainbow flag to shimmering metallics of the holidays and stark black-and-white photography of World War I.”
It’s worth noting that the date of the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I (Nov. 11, 2018) falls during the band’s next season. MAFB has used the National World War I Museum and Memorial as a performance venue for some time. This year, most of its concerts will be at the Medallion Theater.
Here are some selections from Season 16 concerts.
Red, Orange and Yellow, Oct. 20, 2018
Medallion Theater, Plexpod Westport Commons, 300 E. 39th St., KC, Mo.
Margaret Brouwer’s “Red Hill Special March,” Sergey Prokofiev’s “March from The Love for Three Oranges” and Henry Fillmore’s “Orange Bowl March”
Stephanie Berg “Summoning Fire,” Eric Knechtges’ “Autumn Passages”, Quincy Hilliard’s “In Praise of Autumn,” Arthur Sullivan’s “Pineapple Poll,” et al.
Silver and Gold, Dec. 15, 2018
Medallion Theater
Ralph Raymond Hays’ Hanukkah medley, Ayatey Shabazz’s “Christmas Fantasia,” Yukiko Nishimura’s “Winter Milky Way,” Bob Krogstad’s “Bells of Christmas,” et al.
Black, White and Gray – Feb. 24, 2019
J.C. Nichols Auditorium, National World War I Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial Dr., Kansas City, Mo.
Premiere of Kimberly Archer’s Songs of Longing and Solitude, with text by WWI-era poet Rainer Maria Rilke
Green, Blue and Purple, May 4, 2019
Medallion Theater
Frank Ticheli’s “Blue Shades,” Catherine McMichael’s “Sapphire,” Anne McGinty’s “Greensleeves Fantasia,” Chris Sharp’s “Purple Mountain Majesty,” et al.
MAFB Basics
Formed in 2002, Mid America Freedom Band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Composed of LGBT and allied instrumental musicians, MAFB “strives for excellence while promoting equality, fostering education and celebrating the joy shared through music.”
According to Riggins, current MAFB members number around 80. Most members are performing musicians. Non-performing members include some board members, front-of-house coordinator, production manager, etc.
Auditions are not required to join, but members must be able to read music and be at least age 18. Members are welcome to join at any time. The first rehearsal for the next season is scheduled for Aug. 23 at Central Presbyterian Church in Midtown Kansas City.
Show-Me Pride Ensembles
The MAFB organization includes a concert band, a marching band, a jazz band and a group of non-musician volunteers called the Rest section.
To more accurately reflect its internal structure, an umbrella entity known as Show-Me Pride Ensembles (SMPE) was incorporated. The concert band (Mid America Freedom Band), jazz band (Mighty Mo Combo) and marching/pep band (MAFB Spirit) are placed beneath the SMPE. This is all mostly technical, however. The combined groups will continue to do business as and be known as Mid America Freedom Band.
Mighty Mo Combo, along with Eboni Fondren, will perform a special Ella set at the wedding of Dan Meiners in August.
Web
freedomband.com – info and support
facebook.com/MidAmericaFreedomBand
instagram.com/mafb_kc
Band Welcomes New Executive Director
Joyce Anderson Downing, Ph.D., began her duties as executive director of Mid America Freedom Band on July 2. She joins the organization after a long career in advocacy, education and administration. Shared values and interests align Downing with MAFB and its mission. Her love of music and teaching made her a good match for the band.
Downing started her education career as a public-school music teacher. Later, she obtained advanced degrees in special education, behavior disorders and learning disabilities. Within these fields, she conducted research, taught college courses, did advocacy, and ultimately served as chair of the department of educational leadership and human development at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
What does an executive director do?
“Generally, an ED works closely with the board, staff and volunteers to carry out the mission of the organization on a day-to-day basis. In the case of the MAFB, that will look much like it would for any other nonprofit – making sure necessary paperwork is completed ...; developing a strategic operational plan and tracking progress toward goals; and coordinating community building, including grant-writing and fundraising. The MAFB board is a working board, with committees that are charged with many of the group’s goals, so I will also work closely with those smaller groups.”
Is outreach one of your duties?
“Communication and representation is certainly something I will be charged with, both in the LGBTQ community and with other community organizations and the public at large. Determining the purpose and focus of the outreach I do as ED will be part of my first conversation with the board in July. I’m familiar with MAFB primarily from the viewpoint of an audience member and fan and will need to get up to speed on the priorities, but I certainly would be open to formal and informal conversations with any interested parties.”
What about this position interested you?
“My love for music and teaching determined my career path from the beginning, and a commitment to inclusion and diversity led me into special education and advocacy, as I made professional choices along the way. It seemed like a good match for my skills and sort of takes me back to where I began in music education many (many) years ago.”
When asked about volunteers for the group:
“MAFB relies on the support and efforts of volunteers in a number of critical areas that support the mission. As a volunteer myself during the LGBA conference, I saw first-hand the importance of having a cadre of committed hard-working folks making it possible for the musicians to ‘do their thing’ ... not that the local MAFB performers didn’t do a lot of work behind the scenes planning and carrying out the conference. I was very impressed with how well-organized and professional everything seemed to an observer.”
As a teen in Salina, Kan., Downing was recruited to play oboe in the municipal band by Eric Stein, who also directed the Youth Symphony at the time. The band performed summer concerts in Sunset Park. She recalls the experience fondly. We wish her well in her new position that brings her back to community band involvement.