Sundays at Six concert series in La Mesa features the San Diego Concert Band

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A moment of silence for the people killed in the Orlando, Florida mass shooting was held by La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis before the performance of the San Diego Concert Band’s “Sundays at Six” concert series on June 12 at Harry Griffen Park. Then the band played on.

A moment of silence for the people killed in the Orlando, Florida mass shooting was held by La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis before the performance of the San Diego Concert Band’s “Sundays at Six” concert series on June 12 at Harry Griffen Park. Then the band played on.

San Diego Concert Band Conductor Roy Anthony selected 12 songs that included what he called “Americana” songs such as John Philip Sousa’s “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Semper Fidelis” March, and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

But the free concert in the outdoor amphitheater circled partially by trees with staggered levels of green grass and built-in cement seating provided a distraction and a lovely evening in the park.

Audience member Mike Greene was not only enjoying the music along with several hundred others but also supporting his wife, Karen, a clarinet player of a little over a year for the San Diego Concert Band, or S.D.C.B. Greene shared that his wife had played clarinet in high school and “wanted to get back into it” and did by auditioning and was welcomed into the band.

Anthony has been on the conductor’s stand for five years although the S.D.C.B., has been in existence more than 25 years. Anthony, an accomplished conductor, was previously asked to coordinate thousands of student musicians playing at the Olympics in China.

S.D.C.B. librarian, Pamela Lawrence, whose husband, Richard, plays baritone saxophone, readies the sheet music the band needs by cataloging and then distributing the sheet music to the 95 members based on Anthony’s selection.

Lawrence explained that the all-volunteer band consists of 18-85 year-olds whose day jobs include military members, doctors, lawyers, federal/county employees, insurance agents, and “the whole gambit” as she phrased it.

The Sundays at Six concert series started in April through July 24 at Harry Griffin Park. Sponsored by the City of La Mesa, the La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation and Grossmont Center, there is a summer full of jazz, rock, and big bands. For more information visit www.cityoflamesa.com.

The S.D.C.B. sells CDs, members pay dues, and have sponsors. They have concerts the whole year.  You can visit their website at: www.SanDiegoConcertBand.com or find them on Facebook for more information.

Music can heal, soothe, and improve moods. The San Diego Concert Band did just that on a somber June day.