![]() ![]() |
![]() |
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 in the Orchestra Room of
Creative and Performing Media Arts, 5050 Conrad Avenue. 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 |
![]() |
![]() Creative Performing and Media Arts, |
Clarinet: Joshua Bardin, John Boaz, Franklin Borkat, Vincent Broman, Andy Concors, *Jonathan Crick, Lynne Harrington-Crick, Brian Hess, Cindy May, Elaine Ragazzo, Dick Robinette, Bryant Smith, Stephen Smith, Sandra Wagner, Melody Wang, and Betty Zaleski.
Oboe: *Vincent Broman.
Saxophone: *Tim Boelke, Richard Crompton, Kathryn Edwards, Steven Feldman, Joel Feinstein, Jessica Lafave, Evelyn McKinney, Maureen Minder, Buzz Naughton, Rick Rand, Stephen Smith, Haruna Suzuki, Kevin Toma, and Timothy Van Campers.
Bassoon: Judy Edelblute, Heather Jenkins, *Joshua Ma, and Dee Wood.
French Horn: Janet Cherif, Bruce Coggins, *Jim Hane, Ashley Harris, Wayne Kitt, Amanda Marriage, and Sandra Perez.
Flute/Piccolo: Ellizar Abalos, Andrea Ashbaugh, Kim Darden, *Marc Fulbright, Stacy Graves, Regis Komperda, Sara Kuphal, Kate Leonard, Renee Maurer, Debbie Olson, Christopher Painter, Connie Stephenson, Kathy Wellbrock, Rachel Whiting, and Cindy Wislofsky.
Cornet/Trumpet: Krista Coppedge, *Ed Hekman, Chuck Hukari, Chris Lafave, Stephan Lapic, Gregg Lichtenstein, David Mather, Dennis McKinley, Douglas Mooney, Gilbert Pablo, Kathy Robb, Tanya Wallace, Dan Wolford, and Mary Wolford.
Trombone: Hannah Arzanpouli, Mark Ashbaugh, Bob Brislin, *Jack Close, Joe Quintero, and Pete Riley.
Baritone/Euphonium: *Lon Cumberworth, Jaime Mariscal, Tara Nijhowne, and Bobbie Svenson.
Tuba: Chuck Cuccaro, Joe Muzika, and *Matt Preuss.
Percussion: Richard DeRosset, Domi La Russa PoliCastro, Kathryn Trainor, and *Matt Trainor.
Music Director and Conductor: Richard Almanza.
Joint concert with Japanese Training Squadron Band and Navy Band Southwest, Civita Park, June 15, 2019:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
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:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
|
Selected recordings:
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 © 2021 Kearny Mesa Concert Band Member of The Association of Concert Bands |