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History:
Founded in 1972, the Kearny Mesa Concert Band is the oldest,
continuously playing community band in San Diego County. The band
was established as a class in the music department at San Diego Mesa
College by Dr. Ellis Benson, then president of the school and a trumpet
player in the band. The band
was created as a showcase for older, talented, amateur, and professional
musicians. William Swegles, a music faculty member, was the band’s
first music director, succeeded by Robert Olisar, a local musician.
Each had short terms until Robert McKewen became the third music
director from 1981-1992.
McKewen led the band through a transition in the mid-1980s from a Mesa College music
class to a continuing education class.
James Romeo played in the band for a year under McKewen before
becoming the fourth music director from 1992-2016.
The name, Kearny Mesa Concert Band, was adopted early in Romeo’s
tenure. Richard Almanza took
over as fifth music director in 2016.
Today the band is a tuition free continuing education class of
the San Diego Community College District which meets at Mesa College,
the Continuing Education Building, Room 118. The class meets on
Tuesdays beginning at 7:00 p.m. during fall, spring, and summer terms.
Although musicians of all ages are active in the band, the
average age is over 55. The
band does not require a formal audition to participate, only a desire to
play great music with new friends. |
![]() 1995 Summer Concert in Standley Park ![]() 2018 Pomerado Band Festival, Old Poway Park |
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![]() Creative Performing and Media Arts, |
Bassoon: Allen Diamond, and *Dee Wood.
Clarinet: John Boaz, Franklin Borkat, *Jonathan Crick, Lynne Harrington-Crick, Elaine Edleman, Brian Hess, Ian Lee, Simon Nicoud, Elaine Ragazzo, Dick Robinette, Jay Sacks, Sandra Wagner, and Betty Zaleski.
Euphonium: *Lon Cumberworth, Tara Nijhowne, and Bobbie Svenson.
Flute/Piccolo: Andrea Ashbaugh, Marc Fulbright, Elizabeth Hendricks, Regis Komperda, Kate Leonard, *Debbie Olson, Chris Shannon, Kathy Wellbrock, and Cindy Wislofsky.
French Horn: Bruce Coggins, *Jim Hane, Ashley Harris, and Amanda Mariatori.
Oboe: *Vincent Broman and Kim Dardin.
Percussion: Ann Broman, Kathryn Trainor, and *Matt Trainor.
Saxophone: *Tim Boelke, Kathryn Edwards, Steven Hendricks, Jessica Lafave, and Buzz Naughton.
Trombone: Hannah Arzanpouli, Mark Ashbaugh, Bob Brislin, *Jack Close, Joe Quintero, and Jane Yeatts.
Trumpet: Krista Coppedge, Rachel Doolittle, *Ed Hekman, Chris Lafave, Gregg Lichtenstein, Douglas Mooney, and Kathy Rob.
Tuba: Chuck Cuccaro, and *Matt Preuss.
Music Director and Conductor: Richard Almanza.
Joint concert with Japanese Training Squadron Band and Navy Band Southwest, Civita Park, June 15, 2019:
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Civita
Park, August 15, 2017
Click here for a Henry Mancini medley video from the August 15, 2017 concert at Civita Park. Click here for a Glenn Miller medley video from this concert.
Spreckles
Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park
History of community bands in San Diego:
Click here to read A Brief History of Community Bands in San Diego.
Joint concert with Japanese Training Squadron Band, Plaza de Panama, Balboa Park, June 14, 2015:
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Selected recordings:
Poway Band Festival, Old Poway
Park, May 22, 2022, John Philip Sousa, Songs of Grace and Songs of Glory:
Spring Concert, Creative Performing
Media Arts, April 5, 2019:
Twilight in the Park concert, Organ
Pavilion, Balboa Park, November 25, 2017:
James Romeo's final concert after
25 years as
Music Director, Community Band Festival, Old Poway Park, May 22, 2016:
Christmas concert, Mira Mesa Presbyterian Church, December 14, 2014:
Rudolph's Christmas Concert,
;
American Christmas Rhapsody,
;
Celebration of Christmas Carols,
;
American Christmas Rhapsody,
;
Santa Claus is Coming to Town,
.
Christmas concert, Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park, November 29, 2014:
Star of Wonder, arranged
by James Swearingen and Johhny Marks,
Rudolph's
Christmas Concert, arranged by Eric Osterling
.
Recording made on June 14, 2014 aboard the Japanese Navy vessel, Kashima, in preparation for our joint concert with their band at Balboa Park on June 17, 2014:
Gabriel's Oboe, composed by Enio Morriconi and arranged by our band member,
Joe FurFuro
.
Recordings, Crill Performance Hall, Point Loma, San Diego:
John Philip Sousa, The Stars and Stripes Forever,
;
Leonard Bernstein, Overture to Candide,
;
Camillie Saint-Saens, Chorale, Symphony No. 3 (Organ),
;
Gioaccino Rossini, Largo al Factotum from Barber of Seville
(vocal, Cleve Genzlinger),
;
Arthur Sullivan, Pineapple Poll Suite (selections),
;
Zo Elliot, British Eight March,
;
Herbert Clark, Carnival of Venice, Theme and Variations (euphonium,
Christian Riesebieter)
;
Hal Leonard, Armed Forces Salute,
;
Peter Wilhousky (setting), Battle Hymn of the Republic,
;
David Holsinger, It is Well with my Soul, On a Hymnsong of
Philip Bliss,
;
Samuel Ward, America, The Beautiful,
.
Founded in 1972 Copyright © 2022 Kearny Mesa Concert Band Member of The Association of Concert Bands |