Golden Gate Park Band

About the Golden Gate Park Band

The Golden Gate Park Band—founded in 1882 and San Francisco’s oldest musical organization—presents its 141st season with a new music director and principal conductor Craig McKenzie, new associate music director and conductor German Gonzalez, and its new administrative leadership and structure.

Presenting 25 free concerts, held mostly on Sundays at 1:00 pm here at the Spreckels Temple of Music in Golden Gate Park, the band features programming relevant to San Francisco’s diverse population, showcasing partnerships with cultural organizations as well as themes to delight all audiences.

Please visit us on the web at goldengateparkband.org where you can join our newsletter, find more information on the current season, and make donations to the band.

About the Director

Dr. McKenzie received his D.M.A. from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music where he studied instrumental conducting with Robert M. Carnochan. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Music with an emphasis in conducting from San José State University. His conducting mentors also include Edward C. Harris, Alan McMurray, Diana Hollinger, and Thomas Verrier.

Since 2018, he has also held the position of Assistant Professor of Music, Assistant Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands at San José State University.

Craig has been music director and conductor of the San Francisco Brass Band—the California Bay Area’s first competitive Brass Band ensemble—since is its founding in 2019.

Dr. McKenzie is the 2019 Grand Champion of the International Conducting Competition hosted by the National Association of Brass Band Conductors (now the Brass Band Conductors’ Association) in Eccles, England.