Introducing the Sunset Community Band
By Supervisor Joel Engardio
Meet the new Sunset Community Band. They answered my call to start a marching band in San Francisco’s Sunset district.
We need this in our lives. Music is a great way to celebrate local pride and create joy.
Do you want to join? Sign up here.
Many of the members of the Sunset Community Band played in their high school or college marching band, and then life happened. Their instruments sat in the closet or garage gathering dust for years or even decades. Now they have a reason to reconnect to the band experience they love. And they get to share the joy of music with others.
It’s heartwarming when a man in his seventies dusts off his trumpet and plays alongside a new mom in her thirties. They are in very different stages of life, but they share a love of music and community. They will gain a lot from playing music with each other while bringing smiles to Sunset residents.
Events
The band will represent the Sunset all over San Francisco at events like the LGBTQ Pride, Lunar New Year, and Fourth of July parades. It will also perform in the Sunset at special holiday events, block parties, the Sunset Night Market, and events on the Great Highway.
In early rehearsals, they marched and played on the sidewalk along Judah Street. Residents opened their windows and came to their front doors to see what was happening and they cheered as the band marched by.
The band’s debut was at the first-ever Fourth of July parade on the Great Highway, which Nancy Pelosi surprised everyone by attending.
Watch a video of the band’s first rehearsal and performance:
Inspiration for the band
It's amazing what happens when you put an idea into the universe. I never expected our first-ever Sunset Night Market would bring 10,000 people to Irving Street. When that happened, I thought we also needed a Sunset Community Band to play at special events to celebrate everything that makes the Sunset so great.
Good things are happening in San Francisco’s Sunset neighborhoods — it’s a part of the city that is home to new families, innovative restaurants, and a burst of creative arts and culture.
I believe a renaissance is coming. The return of the L-Taraval train, the activation of a section of the Great Highway as a park on weekends and potentially full time, the number of innovative small businesses choosing to open up in the Sunset, the energy of our Sunset Chinese Cultural District, our night markets and Sunday farmer's market, and all the destination restaurants with lines out the door, are all examples of potential being unleashed in the Sunset post-pandemic even when areas like downtown continue to struggle.
The Sunset Community band will be there to celebrate the joy that exists in the Sunset as we work to create more of it.
Currently the members range in age from 30s to 70s. The goal is to make this an all-ages band where Sunset students who play in their school bands can join and get mentorship from experienced musicians.
The future of San Francisco starts in the Sunset and we need a community band to express all the pride and joy in the avenues that stretch to the ocean.
Seeking band players
The all-volunteer Sunset Community Band is growing. We’re seeking musicians of all kinds (woodwind, brass, percussion). We are putting together a wind ensemble and a band that can march at special parade events. Sign up here.
Rehearsals are Tuesday nights from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
Teenagers currently playing in their school bands are also welcome. The Sunset Community Band is all-ages so student musicians can find mentors and seniors can find purpose.
Seeking non-playing volunteers
If you don’t play an instrument, you can still be involved! We need volunteers who are music lovers to help with marketing, fundraising, and administration. Maybe someone to design uniforms or choreograph some dance moves.
Sign up here.
Band leaders
I put my vision for a Sunset Community Band in my newsletter and asked if any musicians wanted to volunteer to lead it. Sunset residents Nina and Alex Strachan stepped up. Then Allyson Ward joined the leadership team.
Starting things that haven’t happened before can be difficult but they’re worth trying when they promise to bring a lot of joy to people.
Nina Strachan (left), Alex Strachan, and Allyson Ward
Nina Strachan plays the saxophone and flute and has marching band experience. "Having played in all sorts of bands during my childhood and college, I really miss it in my adult life,” Nina says. “I hope to bring this band to all the other musical folks who are missing this community just as much as I am.”
Alex Strachan is the principal horn and assistant conductor for the Oakland Civic Orchestra. “Community building is more important than ever and I’m excited to help bring the sunset musical community together,” Alex says.
Allyson Ward is a public school music educator. “I want to create a welcoming environment for young musicians where they feel like they can explore music instead of feeling like they need to stay in a box,” Allyson says.
Supervisor Joel Engardio played coronet in his public school band in 6th to 9th grades. “I still have the coronet. I might just try to play it again so I can also be in the Sunset Community Band!”
Supervisor Joel Engardio in the 7th grade and today with the same coronet.