West County Winds (WCW) was started in 1985 by Terry Clark, El Cerrito High School’s former band director, and nine of his graduates (some of whom are still regular members). Clark conducted WCW for 16 years, and in that time the band more than tripled in size and became known for its excellent performances of challenging music.
When Clark moved to Sonora, California, tuba player Ray Iniguez took the podium for a season, followed by Brian Barfield, Bob Calonico, and Spiros Xydas. When Xydas announced his intent to leave at the end of the 2005 season, WCW began its first ever member-led conductor search, which led to the hiring of Rice Majors.
The next several years brought new transitions as Rice Majors was succeeded at the podium by Jesssica Bejarano in 2010. Bejarano led the group until the close of West County Winds’ 2013-2014 season. During this period, the group also incorporated as a non-profit entity and obtained tax-exempt status.
In 2015, after a year-long search, Geoffrey Gallegos was selected as the next West County Winds conductor. Drawing on a rich orchestral experience, he has led the band for over 10 years. During this time, the ensemble has grown in its musical proficiency and artistic ambitions. We are excited to embark on our 40th concert season under Geoffrey’s baton.
Read more about West County Winds’ amazing conductors, past and present, here.
What We've Achieved
Provided dozens of concerts to thousands of community members over the years
Performed across venues in the Bay Area and with high-caliber concert soloists, under the direction of renowned conductors
Built community among hundreds of musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area
Supported other local music organizations and provided an avenue to bolster arts awareness in the Bay