Save the date:
South Florida Pride Youth Band Celebrates 15th Season, Matinee Concert Scheduled Sunday, February 22 at The Parker
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.- (January 16, 2026) – The South Florida Pride Youth Band will celebrate its 15th season with a special matinee concert presented by FLoatarama on Sunday, February 22, at 2 p.m. at The Parker. Tickets are $45 and available at tinyurl.com/SFPYB15.
Comprised of more than 80 students representing dozens of public and private high schools across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, the South Florida Pride Youth Band offers young musicians the opportunity to work with an outstanding artistic team and professional mentors, connect with peers, unite against bullying, and celebrate diversity through music.
The first act will feature performances conducted by Dr. Erika Svanoe, conductor of the University of Wisconsin–Stout Symphonic Band, alongside members of the South Florida Pride Concert Band, the bridge-building musical powerhouse which has been entertaining the South Florida community for 40 years.
New this year will be the inaugural Youth Pride Jazz Band. Conducted by Edgar Rubio, jazz band director for the South Florida Pride Concert Bands, students will perform jazz selections during the second act.
Dan Bassett, who has served as artistic director of the South Florida Pride Concert Band for the past 20 years and is a founding member of the South Florida Pride Youth Band, reflected on the program’s origins. “We founded the Youth Band 15 years ago after receiving an overwhelming response from marginalized teenagers searching for a safe and inclusive space where they could simply play music,” he said.
The South Florida Pride Youth Band was founded in 2010 during the turbulent “It Gets Better” movement, when there was a clear need to respond to rising incidents of bullying and suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth.
“We’ve put tremendous effort into making this four-week honor band experience a memorable one for these talented young musicians,” said Dr. Adam DeRosa, board chair of the South Florida Pride Concert Band. “In addition to receiving invaluable musical mentorship and performing alongside members of our band — including many former professional musicians — students build friendships and experience performing on a professional stage.”
During the Season 15 concert, the South Florida Pride Concert Band will award more than a dozen individual $1,500 scholarships to local high school band students. FLoatarama, a South Florida all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated raising awareness and funds to support the youth who identify as LGBTQ+, will award a $2,500 Jazz Director’s scholarship to a member of the inaugural Youth Jazz Band and a $7,500 scholarship to the recipient of the Fifth Annual FLoatarama Youth Pride Band Soloist competition. This musician will also be a featured as a soloist during the South Florida Pride Concert Band’s May 2026 concert.
“We are incredibly proud to continue our commitment to the South Florida Pride Youth Band through the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund,” said Floatarama president, Scott Schramm. “It is incredibly gratifying to champion these talented young people by providing them with the financial resources they need as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”
The South Florida Pride Concert Band is celebrating its 40th season and remains the oldest LGBTQ+ arts and cultural organization in the state of Florida.
Photo credit: South Florid Pride Concert Band
Calendar listing:
South Florida Pride Youth Band Season 15 Presented by FLoatarama
Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2 p.m.
The Parker, 707 NE 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, 33304
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/SFPYB15
