Under the direction of Roy Anthony, Jr., the San Diego Concert Band 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. We are proud to have among our members several musicians who are currently stationed in San Diego and who are assigned to Navy and Marine Corps bands.

The San Diego Concert Band was founded as the La Mesa Community Band in 1989 and was renamed in the early 1990s. Celebrating over three decades of entertaining San Diego residents, the Band maintains an exciting schedule of concerts each year. The seasons begin with the annual holiday and spring concerts. These formal events are currently presented at the Joan B. Kroc Theater, in East San Diego. Over the years, these concerts have been performed at various concert facilities, including East County Performing Arts Center and Crill Hall at Point Loma Nazarene University. A more casual summer series of "concerts in the park" are performed at the Southern California Community Band Festival 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, the Band performs for the “Independence Celebration” at St. Dunstan’s Church in San Carlos, and at the Water Conservation Garden in Rancho San Diego.

The San Diego Concert Band is supported solely by member dues, private sponsorships, individual donations, and the donations received for tickets to our performances and recordings. Ways you can support the Band are described on the Support Us page.

Our Conductor

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.

In February 2015, Roy Anthony received the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Aubrey Penman Retired Music Educator Award, which honors continued influence in developing teachers.

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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