Disco District was commissioned A.J. Gonzales and Prospect High School for their Symphonic Orchestra’s Carnegie Hall performance in 2026. In early conversations, A.J. suggested several directions for the piece, one of which resonated deeply with me: the story of Harvey Milk. 

Milk, the first openly gay person elected to public office in California, became a transformative figure in San Francisco’s Castro District during the 1970s. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, he championed anti-discrimination laws, fair housing, public transportation, and the rights of marginalized communities. He helped turn the Castro into a thriving center of LGBTQ life, inspiring people to live openly and proudly. Although his life was tragically cut short by assassination in 1978, Milk’s legacy endures as a symbol of hope, progress, and freedom 

This piece draws on that spirit, celebrating joy and resilience rather than tragedy. Throughout, listeners will hear echoes of 1970s disco; its rhythms, beats, and motifs intentionally woven into the score. Disco, a vital genre within the LGBTQ community at the time, offered not only some great dance music but also safe spaces for expression, belonging, and liberation. In Disco District, I aim to capture that sense of freedom and community that defined both disco and Harvey Milk’s vision for a more inclusive world 

This version of Disco District is an arrangement for Wind Band. Many aspects of the music have been altered to fit the differing instrumentation.