The Camarillo Community Band, presented by Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District, is excited to announce its 34th Summer Concert Season. Concerts will be held on Thursday July 11th, 18th, 25th and August 1st at 7:00 PM in Camarillo’s Constitution Park, at the corner of Carmen and Paseo Camarillo.
Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a summer evening of toe-tapping music. Listen to the band perform a wide variety of musical favorites. Every week children in the audience grab an official Camarillo Community Band baton and conduct the band.
The Camarillo Community Band is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Your contributions are tax deductible. For further information on the Camarillo Community Band, please call (805) 530-6370, email [email protected], or access our web site at www.camarillocommunityband.com.
Camarillo Community Band History
The Camarillo Community Band was founded by Mr. Kirk Raymond to provide a musical performance opportunity for community musicians as well as a delightful family activity for area residents.
After he directed the Camarillo Community Band for its first 14 years, Mr. Raymond passed the baton to a committee of loyal band members who continued the summer tradition using local band directors and even band members to lead the July concerts. The community owes a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Raymond for his efforts in reviving the age-old tradition of “Concerts in the Park.”
Since its inception, the Camarillo Community Band has grown in quality and strength with over 100 musicians participating in some part of last summer’s concert series. Band members come from all over Ventura County with over 50% residing in Camarillo. The musicians come from all walks of life—students, computer programmers, teachers, moms, dads, printers, secretaries, engineers, clergy, postal service workers, accountants, etc. Musicians range in age from high school students to adults in their 90s. Every summer we have multiple generations of families participating in the band together.
We always welcome new players. Any adult who plays a band instrument is welcome to join. The only requirement is to attend the rehearsals prior to a concert. High school students may audition to join the band and must attend all rehearsals. The audition for high school students consists of scales from 4b to 4#, chromatic scale, prepared piece and sight-reading. To schedule an audition, please email [email protected] or call 805-530-6370. Rehearsals will be Monday and Wednesday evenings, 7-9 pm, from June 17th to July 31st.
Directors
Since 2000, the Camarillo Community Band has been privileged to have many talented guest conductors that each bring his or her own unique style and a variety of exciting musical arrangements to captivate both band members and the audience alike. This summer we are pleased to announce the following directors.
July 11, 2019: We are delighted to welcome back Mr. Robert Hackett. He received his B.A. in Music Education and his Credential from California State University, Northridge. He is currently the Music Director at Agoura High School where he is the Director of the Concert and Jazz Bands. He spent the previous two years doubling the music program at Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. Before that he taught in Colorado, where his bands were top five in state finals two years in a row. His Colorado wind ensemble was selected to the State Concert Band Festival, and the jazz program more than doubled in size. Mr. Hackett was the Director of Bands at Moorpark High School for fifteen years, where the band program tripled in size and his bands consistently received superior ratings. Mr. Hackett was recognized in 2005 as Director of the Year in Ventura County. As a performer, Mr. Hackett plays clarinet and saxophone with the Gold Coast Wind Ensemble, the Clyde Reisinger Big Band, and Equinox Tentet. He is a member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), California Band Directors Association (CBDA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and California Teachers Association (CTA). He is an active clinician and judge in SCSBOA and in jazz festivals. Mr. Hackett also directs the Conejo Valley Community Concert and Jazz Bands.
July 18, 2019: Mr. Mitch Schuster is the Instrumental Music Director of the award winning Band and Orchestra program at Valley View Middle School in Simi Valley. Mr. Schuster has been teaching at Valley View for the past 35 years and has built one of the finest music programs in the state. His ensembles regularly earn “unanimous superior” ratings at festivals every year and several of his students have gone on to successful professional music careers. Mr. Schuster comes from a musical family as both of his parents were respected music educators in Northern California. Mr. Schuster studied trumpet under Joe Alessi, Peter Welker, John Clyman, Mario Guarneri and Roy Poper. He earned his bachelor’s in music degree with honors from California State University at Northridge in 1983. He was named the “Outstanding Music Education” student in 1983. He has received several honors such as the 2008 Lew Roth Teacher of the Year award from the Simi Valley Education Foundation, and the “Outstanding Veteran Teacher Award of 2014” from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). He is a frequent festival adjudicator and clinician and has been a past guest conductor with the Camarillo Community Band and Cazadero Music Camp. He and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 33 years and have four grown children and two granddaughters.
July 25, 2019: Mr. John McQuilkin earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and received his California Teaching Credential from the University of Southern California. He earned his master’s degree from American Band College at Southern Oregon University. He taught instrumental music at Quartz Hill High School from 1980-2017. During that time the band earned superior ratings at music festivals and parades throughout California and the United States. The band performed on stage at Carnegie Hall and has performed in over ten major cities throughout the country. He was selected Antelope Valley Union High School District Teacher of the Year and earned the Distinguished Service award. The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association recognized him with the Veteran Teacher award. Mr. McQuilkin has also taught Brass Ensemble and Concert Band at Antelope Valley College. He currently resides in Camarillo with his wife Deanna and enjoys spending time with his two daughters and granddaughter who also reside in Ventura County. He now has time to play trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet with the Gold Coast Wind Ensemble, Ventura British Brass Band, Topanga Symphony and the Antelope Valley Jazz Ensemble.
August 1, 2019: Perennial favorite Dr. Julie Judd is returning to direct this concert. Julie was Director of Bands at Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark for seventeen years. In 2006, she organized the Ventura County Middle School Honor Band, and she was the Guest Conductor in 2017. Julie also served in 2003 as Guest Conductor for the Orange County Middle School Honor Band and was Guest Conductor for the Long Beach Middle School Honor Band in 2008. Her bachelor’s degree in Music Education is from Florida State University and her master’s degree in Wind Conducting is from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Julie performs regularly with the Ventura British Brass Band, playing both cornet and baritone. She currently is Chief Technology Officer for the Ventura County Office of Education. Julie also conducts the Ventura County Concert Band, presenting four concerts each year. She is married to Jeff and they reside in Camarillo with their two cats. 
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