About Us

The Mood Swings Orchestra is a big band, in the style of the traditional dance bands of the 1930s, 1940s and beyond. The full band consists of 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, guitar and drums. Our core personnel are all women.

Swing tunes make up the bulk of our repertoire. We also mix in some waltzes, foxtrots, tangos, ballads, and the occasional polka.

Founded in August 2003 by musician and bandleader Kathleen Hepburn, we have since grown and evolved from a small ensemble into a full 17-piece swing orchestra.

We are a not-for-profit organization, and serve several communities: the senior community through nursing home and senior center performances; women's support organizations, through benefit concerts; and the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) community, as a dance band for LGBT dances, dance classes and events.

While we strive to sound professional, we welcome musicians of all levels, we require no formal audition, and we encourage less experienced players to learn and improve.

Above all, we learn together about swing music and jazz improvisation, and we have fun.

© 2005 The Mood Swings Orchestra, Boston's All-Women Big Band
website design: Hepdog Productions