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FRESNO COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND
The FCCB Presents: Dance With Me - Sat. March 15 3PM & 7PM - Get Tickets Here!
Meet the Band
An Outlet for Musicians - A Gift to the Community.
Come Be Inspired!
Founded in October 1993, the band was conceived as an organization that would provide an outlet for the many amateur and retired professional musicians in the Fresno area. The band now boasts 80 players representing a wide range of age and occupation, and all are former high school or college band members. Besides this performance opportunity, the band’s mission is to provide a musical, educational and recreational advantage to the people of Fresno and surrounding area by sustaining the American tradition of the concert band, performing the best in classical and pops band literature. The Fresno Community Concert Band is unique in its mission. No other band like it exists in the area, and because of its professionalism and the dedication of its leaders and members, it will continue to present exciting concerts in the concert band tradition.
Robert Nielsen and Larry Huck served as Co-Conductors of the band from its inception until 2003 when Mr. Huck retired. Robert Nielsen remained as sole conductor, and upon announcing his retirement in May 2017, he was joined by newly appointed Associate Conductors Sandy Headrick and Bruce Weinberger. After his final concert in May 2018, they became Co-Conductors. Bruce Weinberger has now taken the baton as sole conductor.
The band’s first performance on February 3, 1994 was in the Fresno City College Theatre. It has since expanded its performances to six pairs of concerts each season in both the FCC Theatre and Shaghoian Concert Hall and has also performed in the Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts, at the California Music Educators Convention, Civil War Reenactment, CSU, Fresno Wind Festival, Sacramento Band Festival and for broadcasts by MediaOne. The band has also played outreach concerts in Merced, Kingsburg, Selma and Caruthers and special concerts in the Rotary Amphitheatre in Woodward Park.
The band is governed by a Board of Directors. The first President was Paul W. Heath, Vice-President of Murphy Bank, who now serves as the band's Treasurer. Jan Goyette is our current President. All administrative duties are performed by Band Manager, Michael Bonner, as well as board and band members and other volunteers.
The Fresno Community Concert Band is generously sponsored by Murphy Bank and Fresno City College, both of which have supported the band since its inception. Starting in the 26th season, Patrick’s Music has joined as a sponsor. Additional support comes from individuals, businesses and band members themselves. The band is thankful for the continued support!
Conductor Profile
Bruce Weinberger, Conductor
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Bruce Weinberger is now retired after 35 years of teaching at Sierra High School, Tollhouse, CA, where he taught concert band, marching band, jazz band, orchestra, and three choirs, as well as band and choir at the Junior High. Sierra High School’s band and concert choir had the privilege of performing at a CMEA Convention in Pasadena.
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Mr. Weinberger received his Bachelor of Music degree from CSU, Long Beach (during which time he became the first undergrad student conductor of the Wind Symphony), and a Masters in Music Education from CSU, Fresno. He studied conducting with Larry Curtis, Gary Unruh, John Larry Granger, Jon Robertson and Herbert Blomstedt and studied flute with John Barcellona at CSULB. He played percussion in the FCCB and was appointed Associate Conductor of the band in 2017. He became Co-Conductor in 2018 and sole Conductor in 2019.
Mr. Weinberger was chosen “Teacher of The Year” for the Sierra Unified School District in 2000 and 2006 and was “Educator of the Year” for Sierra High School in 2015. He was also chosen to conduct Honor Bands for Tulare-Kings County. A high point of Mr. Weinberger’s career occurred in November 2014 when Mariano Rivera, former relief pitcher of the New York Yankees, personally delivered 85 new uniforms and Yamaha instruments for the entire marching band on behalf of his Foundation. In December of the same year, the Sierra High School Music Department was featured in Central California Life Magazine.
Mr. Weinberger and wife D’Arcy (who recently retired from teaching music in the Sierra Unified School District) reside in Clovis and have two adult children. Mr. Weinberger loves to cook, travel, and all things Disney.
Band Manager
Jillian Smith
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Jillian is an accounting specialist at a nonprofit in Visalia. She played guitar when she was younger and was in choir during high school. She graduated from Redwood HS in Visalia, and she just graduated with her bachelor’s in business administration from CSU East Bay. Jillian was introduced to the FCCB in February 2022 by her fiancé Patrick, who plays French horn in the band. She's often seen with friends and family at every concert. She recently had the honor of becoming the new band manager and can't wait to get started.
Marketing Manager
Julie Garcia
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Julie Garcia is a freelance marketing coordinator and elementary librarian who was born and raised in Fresno. She received her BA in Advertising from Fresno State and AA in Library Tech from Fresno City College. Julie has a passion for the Fresno community, working with the Fresno Bee, Jeffrey Scott Advertising, and the River Park Farmers Market. She often works with small local businesses on branding and marketing materials.
When she is not baking delicious breads and pastries, Julie is a voracious reader and cross stitcher. Although Julie has relocated with her family to southern California, she still loves attending performances when she can.
Band Personnel *denotes section leader
Piccolo
Raul Chavez - Florist/Floral Designer
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Flute
Raul Chavez - Florist/Floral Designer
Elizabeth Habib - Music Teacher, FUSD
*Laurie Harmon - Teacher
Doug Mayer - Structural Engineer
Susan Mencarini - Optometrist
Miranda Morse – Music Therapist
Lisa Poole - Retired Science Teacher
Elaine Sherry - Retired Teacher
Oboe
Carly Vasquez - Music Director, Sierra/Jr/SrHS
Jean-Paul Lee Ladoucer - Translator, ESL Teacher
Clarinet
Mike Canady - Retired
Chris Dall - Artist
Matt Erickson - Music Teacher
Marina Gonzalez - Music Teacher, Sanger USD
Patti Hamernik M.D.- Pediatrician
Maddy Hoge - Student
Jennifer Levy - Registered Nurse
Tracey Lewellen - Musican/Artist
William Podolsky - Retired Physician
Jashua Soto – Pharmacy Technician
Cynthia Tilghman – Semi-retired Music Teacher
*D’Arcy Weinberger - Retired Music Teacher
Alto Clarinet
Tracy Lewellen - Musican/Artist
Bass Clarinet
*Joni Bishop - Teacher
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Bassoon
Andres Zamora-Moreno – Band Instrument
Repair Technician
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Alto Saxophone
Holly Bergevin - Teacher
*Becky Nissila – RN Project Coordinator
Tenor Saxophone
Todd Doucet – Programmer/Analyst expert
Baritone Saxophone
Frank Zamora – Band Instrument Repair Technician
Trumpet
Eric Cymanski – Music Teacher, CUSD
Cheryl Faulkner – Rotary Planner
Brent Fremming – Digital Archivist
Jan Goyette – Retired Music Teacher
Sheldon Horn – Music Teacher
Dean Lloyd – Retired Teacher
Tony Luna – VAPA Coordinator, Visalia Unified
Kahlid Mahmoud – Music Store Owner
Dr. Teenie Matlock – Professor, UC Merced
*Dan Pena – Band Director, Sanger West H.S.
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French Horn
Alex Bianco – Bank Teller
Christina Duran – Retired Science Teacher
Bradley Feyma – Music Educator, Edison H.S.
Ricardo Franco -
Laura Hanrahan - Music Teacher, FUSD
*Barry J. Holm - Banker
Patrick Smith - Fleet Manager
Trombone
Gary Barber – Underwriting Associate
Darrryl Harmon – Music Teacher
Ed Hawke - Retired
Stan George – Retired Music Teacher
Erin Gunstream – Elementary School Principal
Matthew Roberts – History Teacher, Retired
*Chuck Salanitro – Music Director, Computech M.S.
RobTaylor – Clinical Psychologist
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Euphonium
Paul Heath – Vice President, Murphy Bank, Retired
Paul Hinkly - Retired
*Katie Velasco – Air Quality Specialist
Richard Royce – BSA Compliance Officer
Tuba
Josh Perkins – Community Inclusion Facilitator
*Harry Siverly – Musical Instrument Repair
Donald Thornton – Retired IRS Tax Examiner
String Bass
Michael McLane – Retired Teacher
Percussion
Mike Figueroa – Student, Fresno State
Phil Gessert – Music Teacher, Ranchos MS
Tracy Lewellen – Musician/Artist
Joe Lizama - Musician
Layne Williams – Asst. Music Director, Sierra H.S.
*Ezra Wright- Middle School Band Teacher
Piano
Elizabeth Habib​
Music Librarian
Elaine Sherry
Stage Manager
Tracy Lewellen
Board of Directors
Jan Goyette, President
Harry Siverly, Vice President
Lisa Poole, Secretary
Paul W. Heath, Treasurer
Elaine Sherry, Band Librarian
Joni Bishop
Phil Gessert
Dean Lloyd
Susan Mencarini
Matthew Roberts
Cynthia Tilghman
Ezra Wright
Doug Mayer
Bruce Weinberger, ex-officio
Jillian Parsons, ex-officio
Julie Garcia, ex-officio