The Musicians

FLUTE/PICCOLO

Liece Benstein Confectionary Technologist, Ret. Jeremy Jones GIS Analyst
Loren Kayfetz Senior Wealth Advisor, Retired Jessica Newcomb Nurse Anesthetist Alisha Rodriguez PhD Student, UC Davis Mona Shahbazian Scientist Sara Stafford* Music & Stagecraft Educator
Michele Thompson Loan Officer, Ret.
Annette Ventura Math Tutor

OBOE

Amy Kahn* (English Horn), Oboe Teacher & Psychotherapist Ronald Kerst Retired Arturo Rodriguez Executive Assistant

BASSOON

Jason Davis*#(Contrabassoon) Marketing Director
Janet Zingale+ Pharmacist, Ret.

CLARINET

Christy Bailes* USAF- Retired, Poet Deborah Beveridge Senior Clerk, Contra Costa County Josie Bromley Music Educator Nick Eaton Instrument Repair Technician. Debbie Frasier Chemistry Adjunct Professor
Stan Jackson Music Educator, Ret.
Ronald Kerst Retired
Don Marram Podiatrist Danielle Napoleon (E Flat Clarinet) Program Analyst Gary Pieroni University Professor David Rausch Architect, Retired
Jan Schmedinghoff Domestic Engineer Caretaker

BASS CLARINET

Karyn Weber Founder, Clarinet Fusion

CONTRA ALTO CLARINET

Lance Moreno Student, DVC

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Maranda Calacsan Research Coordinator Jessica Demeyer Engineer Alana Goldscheid (Soprano Saxophone) Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Director John Quell* Student

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Dominic Lotti Student

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Shawn Usedom* Shipping and Receiving Coordinator

TRUMPET/CORNET

Robb Brighton
Investigator, Ret. Nicholas De La Riva^ Music Educator
Tony Ligouri Music Educator, Ret.
Cynthia Pierce Artist Eliot Smyrl Principal Engineer, Roblox

HORN

Gary Crandell BART Car Repairman, Musician Kathryn Crandell Music Educator, Ret. Musician Phillip Hobson* Music Tour Travel Sally Johnson Registered Nurse, Ret. Zach Usedom Student, DVC

TROMBONE

Jay Hoyer Dean O. Leonard* Certified Financial Planner Scott Sierra
Intellectual Property Attorney Dan Ternstrom Piano Tuning Technician

BASS TROMBONE

Patricia Usedom Office Manager

EUPHONIUM

Kendall Costello Teacher Jason Fernandes Software Engineer Leonard Rossi* Music Educator, Retired Don Tatzin Retired Mayor of Lafayette

TUBA

Bill Beatty* Chaplain, Oakland Police Department, Retired
Barry Cunningham IT Manager- Retired Sophie Lipkin Chemist

PERCUSSION

Darsh Bhutra Retired John Gibson Retired Gordon Gore Robert Hamaker Musician Carl Kittrell Musician, Teacher, Retired Nina Krebs Retired
Theresa Srch-Nelson* Music Therapist

*Section Leader

+ Librarian

#Personnel Director

^ Assistant Conductor

Music is the shorthand of emotion- Leo Tolstoy

The Conductor

Matthew Sadowski- Musical Director and Conductor

Matthew Sadowski, originally from Brighton, Michigan, has served as Director of Bands at the University of California, Berkeley since 2018. In this capacity, he directs and conducts the marching band and wind ensemble in addition to serving on the Music Department's undergraduate committee and advising student-conductors and -composers. He holds conducting degrees from the University of Georgia (DMA 2018) and Ithaca College (MM 2015) and a music education degree from Michigan State University (BM 2007). His principal conducting teachers include Cynthia Johnston Turner and Stephen Peterson. Sadowski has taught up and down the US West Coast, first directing high school band programs in Newport and Beaverton, Oregon and Federal Way, Washington from 2008-2013 before eventually arriving in California. While living in the Pacific Northwest, Sadowski performed on euphonium with the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony and served as Vice President of the Northwest Association for the Performing Arts. From 2014-2018, he taught conducting and music theory courses at the Ithaca College Summer Music Academy. Sadowski, a Walnut Creek resident, is excited and honored to accept directorship of the Walnut Creek Concert Band following the retirement of longtime director Harvey Benstein.

Nicholas De La Riva- Assistant Conductor

Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from San Diego State University where he studied trumpet under John Wilds and conducting under Dr. Shannon Kitelinger. He teaches Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Mariachi at Oak Grove Middle School in Concord. Nicholas also serves on the board of the Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation.

Harvey Benstein- Musical Director and

Conductor Emeritus

Conducting Bands and Orchestras, Harvey Benstein brings a wealth of experience and artistry to the podium. His musical interpretations and artistic conducting style have won the praises of composers, conductors, musicians and audiences alike. Ensembles under his direction demonstrate a wide range of musical styles, sensitive musicianship, and ensemble clarity, creating innovative and eclectic programs.

Locally Benstein has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra and is in his twenty-fourth year as Music Director and Conductor of The Walnut Creek Concert Band. His teaching career spans over 40 years, teaching on the faculties of The Ohio State University (OH), McNeese State University (LA), and Butler University (IN). His secondary school teaching experience began in his home state of Michigan and culminated at Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA. He is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States, working with both professional, collegiate, amateur and student ensembles.

Harvey Benstein retired March 2023 after 25 years with the Walnut Creek Concert Band.

The Board

On September 1, 1999 the band became a California public benefit corporation and on April 19, 2000 was determined a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, ID #68-0447227. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BAND ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Your donation is even more valuable if you are eligible for a matching gift program.

Sara C. Stafford

President and Piccolo & Flute Player

Sara has been a musician for 37 years and credits her love of music to her mother and thanks to her for buying that plastic recorder when she was a third-grader. Sara is the Director of Music and Stagecraft at Alhambra High School in Martinez.

Contact Sara

Don Tatzin

Treasurer and Euphonium Player

Don joined the Band in 2019 and plays euphonium. He also serves as Treasurer. Don stepped away from the euphonium for 45 years and started playing again in 2014 with the Stanley School Middle Band in Lafayette. He had a career in business and an avocation in local government. Don is married to Ellen who has taken up art after her own 45 year absence.

Contact Don

Stan Jackson

Director and Clarinet Player

Stan Jackson is a member of the board and a clarinetist in the WCCB. After retiring as a public school music educator in New Jersey and moving to California, Stan has enjoyed the wonderful music community in the East Bay and the performance opportunities that are offered here.

Contact Stan

Loren Kayfetz

Director and Piccolo & Flute Player

When Loren Kayfetz was just 6 years old, like many children, he was sent to take piano lessons. At 11, he started to play flute and eventually piccolo as well. That was over 55 years ago. A graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, he has played in many orchestras and bands over the years as an amateur and semiprofessional. He retired as an Investment Advisor after 42 years. Currently, Loren plays with the WCCB and Danville Community Band. Past president of the WCCB Board, he and his wife, Pat Pannell, live in Clayton.

Contact Loren

Gail Strack

Director and Clarinet Player

Gail has played clarinet from 4th grade through high school band, as concert mistress, and was concert mistress for four years with the Ohio State Concert Band. Gail was a guest for one concert with the U.S. Marine Band, and has been with the Big Band of Rossmoor for three years, and six years with the WCCB.

Contact Gail

Michele Tompson

Director and Flute Player

Music has been an essential part of my life from my earliest childhood from singing to playing various musical instruments. After many years as a solo pianist I started playing the flute which allowed me to join the band. It’s been an incredible exposure to a wide range of music and performance venues. Best of all it has allowed me to work with gifted musicians and creating excellent musical experiences for the community I live in.

Contact Michele

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Jon Reynolds 1982-2022

Guest Services - MLB & Stanford University

Personnel Manager and Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn Player “I began playing music at the age of 9 and have been playing ever since. I work in customer service for the Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants, and Stanford University. I currently am the brass and visual instructor for the San Leandro High School Marching Band.”

-Jon Reynolds