About

Hornline

Flute/Piccolo

Clarinet

Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Bari)

Trumpet

Mellophone (F. Horn)

Trombone

Baritone (Euphonium)

Sousaphone (Tuba)

Drumline

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Quad Toms (Tenor)

Cymbals

Glockenspiel

Colourguard

Don’t play an instrument?

No problem!

We also have a spirited colourguard leading the band with an array of pride flags!

No experience necessary!

Tony Discenza (he/him)

Music Director

Tony is a professional amateur musician and musical director. At Gayly Forward he works with the band to bring out the best possible sound by creating an inclusive and supportive atmosphere in which musicians of all levels can thrive.

Tony is a French horn player with the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra. He has music directed and played in the orchestra for Scarborough Music Theatre (Sound of Music, Sondheim on Sondheim, Hello Dolly, She Loves Me) and Burloak Theatre Group (Mean Girls, Company, SpongeBob). By day he is a director of a different sorts, leading the office of the CEO at Kensington Health - a not for profit social , community health and long-term care provider in downtown Toronto.

Charlie Koshman (they/them)

Marching Director

Charlie first entered the world of marching bands at age 10 when they joined the Junior Redcoats, a “feeder” band for the Burlington Teen Tour Band. In their 6 years marching with BTTB, they acted as a trumpet section leader and later as a drum major.

In addition to playing trumpet and bari sax in Gayly Forward, Charlie is responsible for teaching members how to march. Outside of Gayly Forward, they are attending the University of Guelph for environmental engineering.

Lyra Jarrell (she/they)

Drumline Captain

Lyra wandered into the marching band scene ten years ago as a self-taught drummer. Since then, she's performed for various events in the 416Beats entertainment drumline, won multiple championship awards as a member of the CADRE drum ensemble, and become the percussion instructor for the Toronto Signals Band.

Lyra enjoys composing and arranging drumline scores, mixing her own musical influences with traditional rudimental drumming to create fresh and tasty rhythms.

Aedan Percy (they/he)

Colourguard Captain

Aedan Percy (they/he) is the colourguard captain and has five years experience performing and competing with marching bands in Calgary, AB. They're excited to grow the Gayly Forward guard!

Colin Savoy (he/they)

President and Chair

Colin has been a trumpet player for 20+ years. His first marching band experience in Asheville, NC from 2005-2009 involved complex drill on the football field.

Upon moving to Canada, Colin joined Queen's Bands, and was the Music Director from 2009-2013. They rebuilt the band: elevating the musicality, while maintaining the fun spirit of the marching band.

He was also a member of the BC Regiment Band, a military style marching band, from 2015-2017.

Colin has a certificate in Project Management; they have been managing projects professionally for 8+ years.

Jos Waller (she/they)

Secretary

Jocelyne is a trumpet player and Board Secretary for Gayly Forward Marching Band in Toronto.

As a proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and dedicated musician, she has performed with both Gayly Forward and the Philadelphia Freedom Band. Other groups include ensembles in both the US and Canada, stretching over more than twenty years.

In non-musical life, they heartily enjoy reading, hiking, and finding time for crafting and yoga. Work experience as an Administrative Coordinator in academic and research settings keeps her busy supporting senior leadership and coordinating complex projects, but never too busy for music and friends!

Tony Discenza (he/him)

Treasurer

Tony is a professional amateur musician and musical director. At Gayly Forward he works with the band to bring out the best possible sound by creating an inclusive and supportive atmosphere in which musicians of all levels can thrive.

Tony is a French horn player with the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra. He has music directed and played in the orchestra for Scarborough Music Theatre (Sound of Music, Sondheim on Sondheim, Hello Dolly, She Loves Me) and Burloak Theatre Group (Mean Girls, Company, SpongeBob). By day he is a director of a different sorts, leading the office of the CEO at Kensington Health - a not for profit social , community health and long-term care provider in downtown Toronto.

Casper Helpard-Lafrenier (he/him)

Membership Director

Casper Helpard-Lafrenier has been apart of Gayly Forward since April 2024. He is passionate about creating a safe and inclusive space for queer musicians!

Graham Devitt (he/him)

Librarian

Graham is Gayly Forward's Librarian, responsible for managing and distributing the band's inventory including music, uniforms and equipment. He plays the trombone and sousaphone and is always ready with a dad joke for those who might need one.

Marlene Rosen (she/her)

Vice Treasurer

Marlene play snare drum with the drumline.

She is a retired accountant.

Keith Reid (he/him)

Member at Large - Advisory Director

Keith Reid has a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Toronto and in 2006 he was the recipient of the Victor Feldbrill National Graduate Fellowship in Orchestral Conducting.

As a conductor, Keith has led ensembles comprised of members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted at the University of Toronto's Walter Hall and MacMillan Theatre, and also at Massey Hall.

Currently Keith is the Artistic Director and conductor of the Festival Wind Orchestra and the Hart House Chamber Strings. Previously, he has served as Music Director of the Hart House Symphonic Band and the Hart House Summer Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the Cambridge Community Orchestra and the Kindred Spirits Orchestra.

Keith has also been active as a conductor and performer for many musical theatre productions including How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Once On This Island, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and A Chorus Line. In addition, he has worked with No Strings Theatre as an Associate Music Director in charge of the Orchestra Training Program for Sweeney Todd, Curtains, and Anne of Green Gables.