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. 

Many of the inaugural members dusted off the instruments they played in high school or college. While they range in age from 30s to 70s, their common bond is a love of performing in a band.

Do you want to join? Sign up here.

Watch the debut of the Sunset Community Band, from their first rehearsal marching on a Judah Street sidewalk to their first performance in San Francisco’s new oceanside Fourth of July parade.

Inspiration for the band
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. 

The Sunset Community Band can play at special events to celebrate everything that makes the Sunset so great, like the Sunset Night Market.

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.

Events
Our newly formed band will perform at special holiday events, Sunset Night Market, Great Highway events on weekends, and march in San Francisco’s LGBTQ Pride, Lunar New Year, and Fourth of July parades to display Sunset pride — and bring joy to everyone.

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 supervisor newsletter and asked if any musicians wanted to volunteer to lead it. 

Sunset residents Nina and Alex Strachan stepped up along with Allyson Ward. They formed the leadership team.

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!”