About

How we started

It has been a dream of mine to create an inclusive queer marching band to celebrate queer euphoria, build a welcoming community, and share pride with the greater queer community in Toronto.

In August 2023, I saw Queer Big Apple Corps perform in NYC. They were doing exactly what I was dreaming of. I spoke with some of the members and was overwhelmed with support and encouragement, finally inspiring me to go Gayly Forward and make my dream a reality!

Colin Savoy, Founder

Sections

We are a fun inclusive community band. There are no auditions to join, and we welcome musicians of all experience levels. It’s most important that you are spirited, and want to celebrate pride!

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!

Member Testimonials

What our members are saying about our Gayly Forward!

Captains

Lyra Jarrell (she/they)

Drum 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!

Keith Reid (he/him)

Music 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.

Board of Directors

Colin Savoy (he/they)

President

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.

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