Since Cliff Norris joined Atlanta Freedom Bands in 1996, he’s done “a little bit of everything.” He served as president of the group for four years and is now the director of marketing and development. But first and foremost, Norris considers himself a tuba player. He’s performed at presidential inaugurations and played with fellow band members across three different continents. “I once checked a sousaphone as baggage to go from Amsterdam and Paris to Sydney,” he says.
Atlanta Freedom Bands, which began in 1994, will serve for the first time as grand marshals at this year’s Atlanta Pride Festival , taking place October 12 and 13. Each year, several people and organizations are nominated by their community and chosen as Pride grand marshals based on their contributions to LGBTQ+ life; other marshals this year include Dr. Elijah Nicholas, founder of The Global Trans Equity Project, and the local nonprofit Lost-n-Found Youth. All four of Atlanta Freedom Bands’ ensemble groups will march together in the parade, performing a slate of iconic pop songs. “It’s all the fan favorites this year,” says marching band leader Candace Weslosky Miller.