The San Diego Concert Band was founded as the La Mesa Community Band in 1989 and was renamed in the early 1990s. The group performs all over the county at various stages, including the Joan B. Kroc Theater, the East County Performing Arts Center, Crill Hall at Point Loma Nazarene University, Concerts in the Park in Poway, the Wine Country Community Band Festival in Temecula, La Mesa's Sundays at Six, and Balboa Park’s Twilight in the Park. In addition, they've performed for the Independence Celebration at St. Dunstan’s Church in San Carlos, and at the Water Conservation Garden in Rancho San Diego.
Under the direction of Roy Anthony, Jr., the group performs a wide range of music; traditional symphonic band pieces, marches, show tunes and arrangements of orchestral works for band. The Band is composed of nearly 100 local musicians from all walks of life, including active and retired music educators, teachers, engineers, doctors, nurses, pilots, attorneys, insurance agents, business professionals, local and federal government employees, and college students.
The Band has included saxophonist Del Schroeder, who in 1971 began teaching music lessons teaching music at local schools like Sunset View, Barnard, Correia Middle School, and Loma Portal elementary. Schroeder - who earned a master’s degree in music arts from San Diego State University - also plays piano, flute, and clarinet. Other local groups she founded include the Warren Walker Middle School Band, the Peninsula Wind Ensemble, and Band at the Beach.
Saxophonist Carl Janelli played with Tommy Dorsey, Neal Hefti, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, and was part of the Jackie Gleason Orchestra on television. He passed away in late 2018.
The San Diego Concert Band is supported solely by member dues, private sponsorships, individual donations, and the donations received for tickets to performances and recordings.