A Welcome to the GOLDEN GATE PARK BAND 2024 Season from newly appointed Music Director, Dr. German Gonzalez
The musicians of the San Francisco Golden Gate Park Band are excited to welcome you and your family to our 2024 concert season! The Golden Gate Park Band (GGPB) was founded in 1882 and is San Francisco’s oldest musical organization. A special welcome to those of you who are just getting to know us, and a big thank you to all of you who are returning to see what the GGPB has been doing since 1882.
It is my pleasure and honor to accept the Music Director and Principal Conductor position this year. I will lead most of the concerts and Dr. Robert Halseth will conduct the July 14 and July 28 concerts.
All concerts are held on Sundays* at 1:00 pm at the Spreckels Temple of Music in Golden Gate Park (also known as the Golden Gate Bandshell) and continue to be free! (*All concerts are on Sundays except July 4 – Thurs., and Sept. 2 – Mon. (Labor Day).
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Music Director and Principal Conductor Dr Craig McKenzie for his leadership last season and congratulate him on his new position on the faculty of the University of Miami.
For over 140 years, the band has been a delightful addition to the fabric and culture of San Francisco and the iconic Golden Gate Park. The band is devoted to performing for and entertaining our GGP visitors, be they residents, family and friends, or the many tourists who visit nearby museums and gardens and wander through the Music Concourse. The band is comprised of 30 professional musicians, many of whom grew up in the Bay Area and love giving the gift of music to the community through excellent concerts with varied programs. During the year, our musicians also perform throughout the Bay Area including performances with the region’s orchestras, musical theater, Broadway musicals, rock and jazz bands, and many others. In addition, many of us teach younger players in our universities, through the school systems, and in the youth musical organizations.
Join us this season as we perform 25 free concerts at 1:00 pm every Sunday, from the April 28 thru Oct. 6, weather permitting. We perform additional concerts on the July 4th (Thurs.) and Labor Day (Sept. 2, Mon.). Each program we perform is unique and varied throughout the season. This year we kick off the season on April 28 with Gustav Holst’s “2nd Suite in F,” “Symphonic Gershwin,” and more. Throughout the season, programming will highlight a variety of cultures, with concerts dedicated to the music of Poland, Armenia, Scotland, Hungary, Ukraine, Mexico, Ireland and Spain. These performances are also expected to include costumed guest performers, dancers, singers and speakers.
The June 16 show will be a Father’s Day and Juneteenth celebration, featuring music from African American composers and artists, and the June 30 show marks the band’s annual Pride concert with programming spotlighting LGBTQ composers. Our May 19 concert will include music of “A Cast of Characters” in line with the Bay to Breakers event. On July 14 a family-friendly series starts with a concert entitled “Disney Magic: Band Fantastic” featuring music from Disney movies such as “Encanto,” “Frozen” and “Moana”, followed by “Tune Town: Music for Kids” on July 28. These concerts are always crowd favorites.
Our season will close on Sun. Oct. 6, 2014 with “Sounds from the Screen: Music of Film and TV,” which is scheduled to include music from John Williams, Henry Mancini, and other renowned film composers.
The musicians of the San Francisco Golden Gate Park Band thank you for attending our concerts and look forward to sharing our gift of music with you. See you soon!
Musically yours,
Dr. German Gonzalez
Music Director, Golden Gate Park Band
