International Pride Orchestra Triumphs at Strathmorewith Historic WorldPride Concert June 5
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International Pride Orchestra Triumphs at Strathmore
with Historic WorldPride Concert June 5
Event Draws Standing Ovation After Concert of American Composers and LGBTQ+ Celebration of Community and Resilience
17 June 2025 – Bethesda, MD: In a stirring, joy-filled performance that fused artistry, activism, and LGBTQ+ pride, the International Pride Orchestra (IPO) thrilled a near-capacity audience at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on Thursday, June 5. Presented as an official WorldPride partner event in collaboration with the Capital Pride Alliance, the concert was a centerpiece of WorldPride DC 2025 and featured a powerful collaboration with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, with proceeds benefiting Whitman-Walker, a leading provider of LGBTQ+ health care and advocacy.
“This performance reminded us all of the power of visibility, and how music can inspire, heal, and energize our fight for equity and inclusion,” said Michael Roest, founder and Artistic Director of the International Pride Orchestra. “Our performers were dressed to express and brought their full selves to the stage, showing the beauty of a community united in sound.”
The evening’s host, San Francisco–based drag icon Peaches Christ, brought her signature blend of camp and charisma to the stage, guiding the audience through the program with razor-sharp wit and unapologetic presence.
Roest was joined on the podium by Bonnie Alger, Dr. Thea Kano, and Robert Moody, conducting a dynamic program that boldly opened with Jennifer Higdon’s “Skyline” from City Scape, followed by a poignant performance of Aaron Copland’s Tender Land Suite. The first half concluded with renowned pianist Sara Davis Buechner, who dazzled the audience with a virtuosic rendition of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
The second act unleashed the orchestra’s percussion section with an exuberant performance of Clarice Assad’s Brazilian Fanfare. Drag violinist and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Thorgy Thor then joined the orchestra along with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and tenor Freddie Ballentine for a deeply moving rendition of Ann Callaway’s “I Love You More.”
Under the direction of Dr. Kano, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC brought emotional gravity to the program with Matthew Felbein’s Steeled and Pax Ressler’s Banned Together, along with a showstopping performance of “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime.
The concert’s finale offered a powerful vision of inclusive patriotism. As the orchestra and chorus performed America, the Beautiful, a procession of drag performers entered the hall bearing American and Pride flags, flanking the stage in a moving display of unity.
“This is what real pride and patriotism looks like,” said Luke Spence, IPO General Manager and trumpet player. “I will never forget the feeling of walking down the aisles with fellow drag queens to America, the Beautiful—American and Pride flags in hand—and seeing audience members in tears.”
The event marked the culmination of a weeklong festival of rehearsals, community-building, and queer joy across Washington, DC. In addition to uniting LGBTQ+ musicians from around the world, the concert raised funds and awareness for Whitman-Walker, a respected leader in LGBTQ+ health care, research, and advocacy. Ticket prices ranged from $35 to $75, with a portion of the proceeds directly supporting the organization’s vital work.
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