Geoffrey Gallegos is a San Francisco native, resident, and sixth generation Californian. He is currently Music Director and Conductor of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra in West Contra Costa County following his appointment in 2004, and Music Director of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra since 2021. From 2003 to 2020, he was Music Director and Principal Conductor of Golden Gate Opera in Marin, and from 2003 to 2008, Maestro Gallegos also served as Assistant Conductor of the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra of Northern California.

Maestro Gallegos has a deep commitment to music education. In 2001, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Golden Gate Philharmonic, an all-city youth string orchestra program, founded in 1995, based in San Francisco. From 2001 to 2010 he participated in the Artist in Residence program at the School of the Arts in San Francisco, where he has guest conducted the orchestra and wind ensembles. During the 2000-01 academic year, Maestro Gallegos served as Conductor of the San Francisco State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He has been a Guest Conductor of Orchestras at Cazadero Music Camp during both the 2002 and 2004 summer sessions and from 2007-2010, he served as Coordinator of Instrumental Music at The Nueva School in Hillsborough where he oversaw the prestigious Menuhin/Dowling program and Young Musicians Competition. Maestro Gallegos has served as an adjudicator for a number of youth competitions, master-classes, and workshops throughout the Bay Area and was invited to participate as a jury member for the 2014 annual Parade of Orchestras Festival held in Honolulu.

Maestro Gallegos holds a Bachelor of Music degree, with honors, in Instrumental Education and Conducting from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts degree in orchestral and opera conducting, with High Distinction, from the University of Iowa School of Music. Since 2005, he has served on the Board of Directors of the
San Francisco Community Music Center where he began his music studies with the trumpet at the age of nine.

For more than sixty years, with over 72,000 hours conducting wind ensembles, bands, and orchestras, Ray has dedicated his life to music education, conducting, and developing innovative programs that inspire musicians of all ages. His passion lies in fostering talent, sharing the joy of music across generations, and producing memorable performances that connect with audiences. Whether working with wind ensembles, bands, or orchestras, Ray has always aimed to explore fresh repertoire as well as timeless classics, blending tradition and innovation on every stage.

One of his career highlights was founding and conducting Winds Across the Bay (WATB) for 20 years, a premier wind ensemble program for advanced high school musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. His conducting work also includes four years as conductor of the CSULA Wind Ensemble (California State University Los Angeles), helping collegiate musicians reach new artistic heights and five years directing the Centennial High School Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz & Marching Bands, and Orchestra in Pueblo, Colorado, nurturing young talent and building dynamic ensembles across a variety of genres. In the adult music arena, he conducted Bank of America Singers for 5 years, entertaining and fostering goodwill on behalf of Bank of America. He has been for 5 years and is currently Conductor of the Hilltop Community Choir, including leading the annual community favorite, Singing Christmas Tree. Now bringing things full circle, having been a founding member of West County Winds adult wind ensemble 40 years ago as a performer, it is an honor to serve as Assistant Conductor of West County Winds.  

Ray believes that music transcends boundaries, connecting people across generations and cultures. His life mission has always been to create engaging, educational, and enjoyable musical experiences while nurturing the unique talents and ambitions of every musician he is privileged to guide.

Ray holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Southern Colorado, and an a Master of Arts in Music Education and Conducting from California State University Los Angeles.