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The Sacramento Concert Band, sponsored by the San Juan Unified School District since its inception, was founded in the fall of 1969 by Ed LaFranchi who conducted for 14 years. Vic Spahn, our lead clarinetist, and Jean Angel, a member of our trumpet section, were there for the first rehearsal!

Dr. Les Lehr was the second conductor of the band from 1984-1990 during which time the band experienced tremendous growth. The band spawned the American River Symphonic Band, the Capital Pops Concert Band and several others, and was the inspiration and base model for the Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association. The Sacramento Concert Band is currently a member of The Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association and The Association of Concert Bands.

Grant Parker recently celebrated his 26th anniversary as the conductor of The Sacramento Concert Band and his 30th anniversary as a musician with the ensemble. He is currently Director of Bands and Chair of the Music Department at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento where he also teaches Concert Band, Brass Choir, Music History, Introduction to Music, History of Jazz and Applied Music. He was co-conductor of The Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band on its 1996 concert tour of Russia, has conducted several local honor bands and is now the sight reading conductor for the CMEA Capitol Section Honor Band. He has cliniced and adjudicated festivals in the California Central Valley and Northern Nevada. As a performer, Mr. Parker has for more than thirty years played lead trumpet with the Fred Morgan Big Band which he now leads.

Through its history, the band has always performed a wide variety of music and has been known for the quality of its performances. In its fourth year the band performed a concert on the first Sunday in June at the band shell in Carmichael Park. This tradition has continued each year and has morphed into the Carmichael Park Band Festival, spanning the entire weekend, with bands from all over California and further. Come see us the first weekend each June.

Programs of past concerts:

December 5, 2016 at Christ Community Church:

Songs of Heritage..............................................Clifton Williams
Air for Band.......................................................Frank Erickson
Riders for the Flag..............................................John Philip Sousa, ed F Fennell
American Riversongs.........................................Pierre La Plante
Gabriel's Oboe...................................................Ennio Morricone, arr R Longfield
Chant and Jubilo.................................................W Francis McBeth
The Unsinkable Molly Brown, highlights..........Meredith Wilson, arr A Reed

Christmas Scenes.............................................Forrest L Buchtel
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen....................English Traditional, arr A O Davis
Hanuka Fantasy...............................................Traditional, arr J Brubaker
Themes from the Nutcracker Suite.................Pyotr Ilitch Tschaikowsky, arr C W Johnsom
Together at Christmas....................................ad/arr C Strommen, P Halliday
Carol of the Drum.........................................Katherine K Davis, arr F E Werle
Sleigh Ride....................................................Leroy Anderson

December 15, 2014 at Christ Community Church:

  • Amparito Roca.................................................................Jaime Texidor
  • California Dreamin'/Monday Monday..............................J Phillips
  • Meditation (from "Thais")................................................Massenet
  • Florentiner March.............................................................Julius Fucik
  • Old Comrades...................................................................C Teike
  • Richard Rogers, A Symphonic Portrait............................R Rogers & O Hammerstein II
  • A Rhapsody on Christmas Carols....................................Claude T Smith
  • Shepherd's Dance, from Amahl and the Night Visitors...Gian Carlo Menotti
  • Greensleeves....................................................................Claude T Smith
  • Rhapsody for Hanukkah...................................................Stephen Bulla
  • A Christmas Festival........................................................Leroy Anderson

1999 Holiday Concert:

  • Selections from Porgy and Bess..............................Gershwin, arr. RRBennet
  • The Florintiner.........................................................J Fucik
  • A Festival Prelude...................................................A Reed
    whitespaceDr L Lehr, conductor
  • March of the Toys / Toyland...................................V Herbert, arr. T Wallace
  • Winter's Nocturne.....................................................Glen E Morden
    whitespaceWorld Premier, conducted by the composer
  • Christmas Day - A Fantasy of Old Carols................Holst, arr. W Rhoades
  • Star of Bethlehem - from "Home Alone"..................J Williams, arr. P Lavendar
  • Rhapsody for Hanukkah - The Festival of Lights....arr. S Bulla
  • Silent Night...............................................................F Gruber, arr. S Nestico
  • Reindeer Monologue.................................................R Carroll
  • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.............................CCMoore, N Long
  • A Christmas Carol Fantasy.......................................arr. T Hoshide

The Sacramento Concert Band is an adult education class of the member of the San Juan Unified School District, is a member of The Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association and the Association of Concert Bands.   Grant Parker, Director

Patty Howard, Council President

Arnie Williams, Website Updates