In 1986, Dorsey Meyer, Sr. (local business leader and former President of the Stockton Chorale), Nelson Zane (music educator and San Joaquin County Schools Coordinator of Music), Harvey Addie (music educator and President, American Federation of Musicians Local 189), and Arthur J. Holton, III met for the purpose of forming a community band. Through the leadership of Mr. Meyer, the format was established, a constitution and bylaws drafted, and state and federal non-profit status obtained. Nearly one year later, rehearsals began.
Approximately 30 musicians appeared for the first Tuesday night rehearsal in the Lincoln High School Band Room. Rehearsals were scheduled for Tuesday evenings so as not to conflict with the Stockton Chorale’s Monday evening and Stockton Symphony’s Wednesday and Thursday evening rehearsals. Initially, band members paid per concert dues which, along with the proceeds from ticket and program advertising sales, as well as a Sustaining Fund (donations from community members), covered the director’s salary, provided stipends for the business manager and librarian, and covered the cost of renting concert halls.
Eventually, the Stockton Concert Band was placed under the auspices of the San Joaquin Delta College Fine Arts Division, thereby eliminating the need for members to pay dues.
Rod Swearingen (former music educator and Coordinator of Music for the Lincoln Unified School District) served as the band’s first director, and was succeeded by Dr. Robert Halseth (former Director of Bands, University of the Pacific; retired Director of Bands, California State University, Sacramento).
Arthur J. Holton III, retired San Joaquin Delta College Director of Bands, succeeded Dr. Halseth and continues to serve as the band’s director.
The band has traveled throughout Northern California to present concerts with other community bands. Additionally, dubbed the Delta Winds, the band has joined with other talented musicians from the Lodi Community Band and other area community bands to travel to and performed in London, England; Ireland; Scotland; and Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York, the second time as the headlining ensemble, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Today the band boasts approximately 95 members, with several of the 30 musicians who attended the very first rehearsal continuing to play in the band.
Every year, dozens of area students graduate from local high schools and colleges after playing in their schools’ bands. People from every walk of life who had a great time playing in their high school and college bands desire to continue or revive that experience. The Stockton Concert Band was formed for and exists for the express purpose of providing band musicians the opportunity to make music a lifetime avocation as part of a high quality concert ensemble. That philosophy has succeeded magnificently with our band members ranging in age from 15 to 85+ years, representing a broad variety of professions and occupations, including but not limited to music educator, professional musician, physician, attorney, secretary, electrician, real estate broker, yoga instructor, farmer, and homemaker.
The band continues to function as an evening class offered by San Joaquin Delta College, along with the Lodi Community Band. The college’s support of these community bands continues its long tradition of dedication to and support of the arts and, in particular, band music, in the community.