Desert Overture Live Cultural Entertainment

Desert Overture Live Cultural Entertainment (DOLCE) is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT+) and Ally music organization whose mission is to entertain, enrich, educate, and support the community and our members through our passion for music. As cultural ambassadors of the LGBT+ community, we build bridges of acceptance and understanding in the community at large; provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for our members; and foster an appreciation for quality music.

DOLCE is an umbrella organization for two performance ensembles: Desert Overture Wind Symphony and Desert City Jazz.

Desert Overture is comprised of members from throughout the Phoenix metro area. Members of our organization come from a wide variety of backgrounds - students to retirees, teachers to doctors, lawyers to professional musicians - all coming together to unite in our mutual passion for music. The members represent both LGBT and supporting allies.

The name Desert Overture originates from an LGBT band of the same name that performed in Phoenix in the 1980s, which was among the first LGBT bands in the country. The founders of the new organization felt that reviving the Desert Overture name would honor the past and carry the tradition forward and would be an elegant name to describe the ensemble. Two members of the original Desert Overture band became members of the newly-formed group.

Desert Overture's first public performance on August 8, 2010 was a concert of solos and ensembles presented at Central United Methodist Church. That free concert, called "A la Carte," drew a standing-room-only audience and was very well received. Desert Overture's first full wind symphony concert, "A Fireside Christmas," was performed in December 2010 at First United Methodist Church of Glendale as part of the "Glendale Glitters" festival, and at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. In April of 2011, Desert Overture marched in the Phoenix Pride parade; it was the first time an LGBT band had ever marched in that parade.

Desert City Jazz is a full-size, 17-piece jazz ensemble (5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, drums, vibes/percussion) comprised of many of the best jazz musicians in the Phoenix area's LGBT and Friends community.

Formed in 2015, the band performs to sell-out crowds in venues such as the Nash jazz club, the Clarendon Hotel sky deck, and Tempe Center for the Arts.