About the Band

Community Bands have been an enduring part of Americana. The San Diego Concert Band proudly continues that tradition. Based in East County, we serve San Diego and neighboring counties, and have acted as cultural ambassadors in performances overseas.

Originally founded as the La Mesa Community Band in 1989 by Charles D. Yates and Warren Torns, the San Diego Concert Band continues to provide the best in concert band music to audiences in San Diego and abroad. Celebrating over two decades of entertaining San Diego residents, this band has an exciting schedule of concerts planned this year. Over the years, the annual spring and winter concerts have been performed throughout the county, including East County Performing Arts Center, the beautiful setting of Point Loma Nazarene University and the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. A more casual summer series of "concerts in the park" are performed at the Southern California Community Band Festival (in Poway), La Mesa's Harry Griffen Park, La Jolla Cove, and Balboa Park. The band frequently features solos, full sections and small ensembles. A wide range of music is performed, from show tunes, movie scores and marches to concert pieces for symphonic band. At its peak, the Band sold out the 1,200 seat East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) twice in 1991. At the time, the Band membership included well over 100 local musicians.

Our Conductor - Roy Anthony, Jr., retired from full-time teaching of instrumental music in 2003. His music groups have performed in Australia, Spain, France, Italy, Hawaii and the Eastern and Western areas of the United States.

Post retirement, Mr. Anthony has served as a mentor/resource music teacher for middle and high schools throughout San Diego County. He has served as Conductor of the San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra, Director and Manager of District and Community Honor Bands, Guest Director for San Diego County Honor Band, Honor Orchestra and Manager of All-State Honor Band. From 2009-2011, Roy served as adjunct professor of music at Point Loma Nazarene University, directing the Concert Band and teaching Secondary Music Methods and Instrumental Conducting.

In 1996, Mr. Anthony was asked to help with the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games; which were held in Sydney, Australia in September 2000. Roy served as coordinator for the 900 members of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Band from the United States which joined with 1200 other band members from 20 other countries.

Roy Anthony was honored as “1995 Teacher of the Year” for the State of California in addition to “Teacher of the Year” for Mt. Miguel High School (three times), Grossmont Union High School District and San Diego County. In 1996, he was honored as a recipient of the “Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award” and the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation “Educator” award. In 1987, he received the Distinguished Teacher Award” sponsored by NEA and presented by President Reagan.

Roy Anthony received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Whittier College and did his graduate work at Whittier College, California State University at Long Beach and San Diego State University.

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