Artistic Director, Dan Bassett
Dan Bassett has been the artistic director of the South Florida Pride Concert Band in Fort Lauderdale since 2006. From 1997 – 2004, Mr. Bassett was Director of Bands at Boca Raton Community High School in Boca Raton, FL where his competitive marching band regularly made finals at the Florida Marching Band Coalition State Championships. From Boca Raton High School, he took the band director position at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Ft. Lauderdale. Not long after, Mr. Bassett moved into administrative roles as Director of Music, Middle School Administrator, and currently Assistant Principal. Mr. Bassett holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Ithaca College, a master’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University and is certified in Educational Leadership and Administration in the State of Florida. He has been honored as “20 Under 40 Influential Artists in South Florida” by the Miami Herald, “Out 50 – Influential People in South Florida” by the South Florida Gay News, and “100 Movers and Shakers in the LGBT South Florida Community” by Agenda Magazine.
Assistant Director, Sara Cowley
Sara Cowley serves as the Assistant Director of the South Florida Pride Concert Band and was previously the Director of Bands at NSU University School in Davie, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Prior to joining NSU University School, Ms. Cowley taught for five years at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, during which she was selected as the Rookie Teacher of the Year. In addition to this role, she also directed the marching, concert, jazz, and color guard programs, and taught Dual Enrollment Music Appreciation through Florida International University. Under her direction, the marching band reached state finals for the first time in school history and the concert and jazz band programs were rebuilt and regularly participated in Florida Bandmasters Association District Music Performance Assessments. Ms. Cowley is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and is a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, women’s music fraternity.
Something Wicked Guest Conductors
Alexander Alberti
Alexander Alberti (Alex, he/him) is a music educator and arts administrator, living in Raleigh, NC. Alex formerly held the position of Director of Instrumental Music at Longleaf School of the Arts (LSA) in Raleigh, NC, and Director of Music at Southern Lee High School. Alex has also served as the pit orchestra conductor for productions with Company Carolina and the Pauper Players at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Alex earned his Master’s degree in Music Education with a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2020. He is also an alumnus of Appalachian State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a minor in Psychology.
Alex has had the pleasure of serving as the Artistic Director and conductor for the Triangle Pride Band since January of 2020. In both 2023 and 2024, he served as a conductor at the Pride Bands Alliance National Conference in Denver, Colorado and Columbus, Ohio. He has overseen dramatic growth within the Triangle Pride Band, and it is his hope that the organization continues to expand its scope and reach within North Carolina, providing musical and social outlets to anyone who loves music and the LGBTQ+ community.
Full-time, he works in educational technology research at Instructure. In his spare time, Alex composes both choral and instrumental works, judges for the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella, and participates in the a cappella group, Triadic Vocals.
Craig Bunch
Craig Bunch, a Staff Sergeant and Clarinetist in the United States Army Reserve, currently serves as the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Hudson’s Bay High School and Director ofBands at Jason Lee Middle School in Vancouver, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Warner Pacific University and a Master of Music Education from Boston University. Craig is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Craig’s passion for music led him to the American Band College, where he studied under esteemed composers and conductors such as Frank Tichelli, Anthony Maiello, Johan de Meij, Paula Crider, and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. Craig has been in music education for 17 years and strongly believes in ‘music for all’ and uses the rehearsal hall as a pathway for community-building, advocacy for diverse student populations, and cultivating student leadership. He actively participates in various music education organizations, including the Lower Columbia River Music Educators Association, Technology in Music Education, and the National Association for Music Education.
Throughout his career, Craig has collaborated with various orchestras and wind symphonies in the Portland, Oregon region. Currently, he holds the positions of Associate Conductor and Clarinetist for the 204th Army Reserve Band and the Rose City Wind Symphony. Additionally, he has been selected to conduct and lead a new Concert Band, part of the Rose City Pride Bands, which will make its debut in the fall of 2025.
In his spare time he enjoys going on adventures with his husband Sam and their dogs Mango and Disco, gardening, making tamales, eating tacos, making salsa, drinking coffee, and enjoying dessert. Always dessert.
Gwen-Marie Lerch
Gwen-Marie Lerch is a music educator, conductor, and professional guitarist. She is the founder and artistic director of Encantada, The Band of Enchantment in New Mexico, USA. Prior to moving to New Mexico, she was a founding member of BandTogether in St. Louis, Missouri, and served on that band’s board for many years. Gwen-Marie also served on the Pride Bands Alliance board of directors for 11 years, and remains a member of the Presidents’ Circle. She has participated as Pride Bands Percussion Section leader on multiple occasions, and has guest-conducted at several Pride Bands Alliance conferences and for other Pride Bands’ concerts. When she is not waving a baton at a queer band, Gwen-Marie is a Director of Guitar for Santa Fe Public Schools, serves on the National Council for Guitar Education/NAfME, and is president of Guitar New Mexico, a guitar-pedagogy and education non-profit. She holds music performance and theory & composition degrees from St. Louis Conservatory and the University of New Mexico.
Gary Reynolds
Gary Reynolds is the founder and Co-Artistic Director of BandTogether in St. Louis. Gary started the organization in March 1997 with just ten members joining him on that journey. The organization is now nearly 200 volunteer members strong, including a 20+ member Colorguard, and performed their 100th concert in October 2024. BandTogether is currently part of the “Gateway to Pride” exhibit at the Missouri History Museum, the first-ever full-scale exhibit on St. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ history. This fall, Gary will begin his 29th season directing BandTogether.
Gary’s first guest conducting opportunity was in 1999 at the “Blast Off” conference, hosted by the South Florida Pride Concert Band. Gary sees this year’s guest conducting opportunity for “Something Wicked” to be a full-circle moment for him.
Other Pride Bands Alliance opportunities included serving as the Co-Artistic Director, along with Jeff Girard, at the 2001 “Meet Me in St. Louis” conference, just 4 days after the 9/11 attacks on our country, as well as the “Silver in St. Louis” conference in 2007, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pride Bands Alliance. He also served as one of the Pep Band Conductors at the Millenium March on Washington in 2000 and as the Concert Artistic Director at Gay Games VII, “Where the World Meets,” in Chicago in 2006.
Gary does not make his living in music. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in Human Resources Management, from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and is in his 10th year as a Senior Recruiter for Thermo Fisher Scientific. Gary and his partner, Billy, recently rehabbed the Reynolds family home in Maryville, IL that was built by Gary’s father in 1955, and have made it their home.
Edgar Rubio
Mr. Rubio received his Bachelor’s in Music Education Degree from Florida State University and Master’s Degree in Educational Technology Applications from Barry University. He is in his third year as the Middle School Band Director at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Fl. Prior to his current position he worked in the Broward County School District for 30 years. During this time, he worked at Tequesta Trace Middle, Sunrise Middle, Miramar High, and Silver Trail Middle, where he taught for 22 years.
He has been the director of the South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble since 2024. In his short time with the ensemble, the group has performed in several community events.
Mr. Rubio is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Fraternity, the Florida Bandmaster’s Association. And is also a certified Clinical Educator who has proudly supervised over twenty interns from Florida State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and University of Florida.
Throughout his career, Mr. Rubio has found it important to serve his profession. He has held the positions of President of the Broward Music Educator’s Association, Secretary and Chairman of the FBA’s District 15 and 20, was the Member-at-Large on the board of the Florida Music Educator’s Association, chairman of FBA’s Jazz Committee and is currently the coordinator of the FBA’s Summer Jazz Institute. He has also presented numerous sessions at various FMEA conferences and the FBA summer conference.
Mr. Rubio has been honored as a guest conductor in both jazz and concert bands in several counties throughout Florida, the Florida State University Summer Music camp and most recently as the conductor of the 2023 Florida All-State Middle School Jazz Band. Past honors also include Silver Trail Teacher of the Year in 2006 and 2019. In 2017, he received the FBA’s Oliver Hobbs Award. He has received the Linda Mann “5 Year Superior” award four times and the “5 Year Superior Jazz Award”. He was the recipient of the “Un Maestro Especial” Award presented by the Univision Television Network in 2018 and most recently was a quarter finalist in the 2021 Grammy’s National Music Teacher Award. He was also a participant in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with the Salute to America Band Directors Band. Throughout his career, he has always been grateful to have the support of his wife, Haymara by his side.
David Triplett-Rosa
For more than 25 years, David Triplett-Rosa has dedicated his career to inspiring students through the power of music. A versatile and passionate educator, David has taught middle and high school band, chorus, and orchestra in diverse school settings — from Title I campuses to high-achieving suburban schools. His mission has always been clear: ensure every student, regardless of background, has access to a meaningful and high-quality music education.
David currently serves as Director of Bands at Barrington Middle School, where his ensembles consistently earn Superior ratings at district assessments. Under his leadership, the program has grown exponentially — from just 70 students to nearly 300 — and now includes a thriving jazz band. His students actively participate in the FBA Solo and Ensemble Festival, submitting nearly 100 solo entries annually. In recognition of his dedication and impact, David was honored with the prestigious Tom Bishop Award at the 2020 Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) Conference.
A hallmark of David’s teaching philosophy is going above and beyond to support every student. In 2011, he collaborated with Dr. Ann Darrow of Florida State University to modify a trumpet stand for a student born with limb differences — a project that later became a featured presentation, “Modifying Instruments for Students with Disabilities,” at the 2013 FMEA Conference. His commitment to inclusion earned him national recognition when he received the Grammy Foundation Music Educator Award in 2011, along with $10,000 to support the band program at Thomas Jefferson High School.
David’s contributions extend beyond the classroom. As Band Liaison to the Ybor Chamber of Commerce, he partnered with Executive Director Lori Rosso to co-author a YCDC grant for the Snow on 7th Parade. This initiative has generated over $100,000 in funding over the past decade, directly benefiting middle and high school bands throughout Hillsborough County.
A passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, David founded the GSA at Barrington Middle School and co-presented “The Alphabet Soup of the LGBTQIA+ Student” at the 2019 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The session, developed in collaboration with Anthony Oakley and the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, tackled pressing topics such as gender-inclusive language and equitable travel policies for all students. In 2022, his efforts were recognized when he was named Teacher of the Year at Barrington.
David holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Florida State University, where he also earned a Clarinet Performance Certificate. He was inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi Gamma Nu Chapter for his leadership in promoting equity and inclusion within Florida’s music community.
Outside of the classroom, David continues to lead and inspire through his roles as founder and artistic director of both the Tampa Bay Pride Band and Tampa Bay Symphonic Winds. He is also an active concert band and solo/ensemble adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association, a former district officer, past board member of the Pride Band Alliance, Hillsborough County Supervising Teacher, and a highly sought-after music education consultant across the state.
David is a proud member of NAfME, FMEA, FBA, and the NEA, and continues to champion music as a tool for connection, creativity, and community building.
Brian Worsdale
Brian Worsdale is a dynamic conductor and educator, acclaimed for his engaging rehearsal style, audience connection, and adventurous programming. Now in his eighth season as the Popkin Wolchok Music Director of the Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestra, he has led the organization through significant growth—expanding from two to six ensembles, increasing membership by 50%, and leading performances at venues including Carnegie Hall. Based in Pittsburgh, he continues to shape the region’s musical landscape.
His professional credits include appearances with the Youngstown Symphony, The New York Pops, and The Williamsburg Consort, among others. He has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including Manfred Honeck, Norm Lewis, Jane Krakowski, and Max von Essen. A committed advocate for new music and diverse voices, he has championed works by Viet Cuong, Valerie Coleman, Omar Thomas, Michael Markowski, and others through commissions and premieres.
Brian’s dedication to music education is longstanding. He founded and led the InterSchool Orchestra of New York Symphonic Band—one of the only private youth wind ensembles in the NYC area—for nearly three decades. He has served on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division and currently teaches conducting at Duquesne University. He is also a frequent guest conductor and clinician, working with organizations such as Music for All, DCINY, and Perform America, and will lead the 2025 Utah All-State Symphony Orchestra.
A native of Brooklyn, Brian studied trombone with David Finlayson and conducting with Jonathan Strasser. He participated in the New York Philharmonic conducting apprenticeship under Kurt Masur and pursued further studies with Larry Livingston and Anthony Maiello.
Now in his 31st year at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, Brian serves as Chief Artistic Officer and Director of Music, where he leads the symphony orchestra, champions new theatrical works, and oversees one of the largest and most comprehensive youth arts programs in the country.
His connection to the Pride Bands Alliance began when he joined the now Queer Big Apple Corps in 1992 as a trombonist and played with them frequently until he was invited to serve as associate conductor and then artistic director where he served on the podium for a decade bringing the ensemble to artistic heights which included its premiere solo appearance at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher (now Geffen) Hall and their sold our residency at Symphony Space (UWS.)