Los Olivos Band in San Luis Obispo, 1908 July 4th parade
Courtesy Curt Cragg and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society
Courtesy Curt Cragg and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society
Music History in Santa Ynez Valley
The Valley Wind Ensemble follows a long history of concert band music in the Santa Ynez Valley. We have historical photos of a Los Olivos Band that dates back to 1908, including the above image of the group in a San Luis Obispo July 4th parade in 1908.
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School music programs date to the early days of the school, and history includes a photo below of the concert band in 1944. Included in the photo is a member who is currently a member of the Valley Wind Ensemble, clarinetist Arlen "Bo" Pedersen.
The Lions Club of the Santa Ynez Valley sponsored a concert band in the 1955 era numbering about fifteen musicians.
Local musicians started the Village Band in 1960.
Charlie Disparte started the Danish Guard band in 1991 and conducted the band for two years. This band became the Valley Wind Ensemble in 1993 under the leadership of Carl Thompson and then Sharon Jeskey.
Click here if you would like to submit a local music story or photo. We'd love to post more!
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School music programs date to the early days of the school, and history includes a photo below of the concert band in 1944. Included in the photo is a member who is currently a member of the Valley Wind Ensemble, clarinetist Arlen "Bo" Pedersen.
The Lions Club of the Santa Ynez Valley sponsored a concert band in the 1955 era numbering about fifteen musicians.
Local musicians started the Village Band in 1960.
Charlie Disparte started the Danish Guard band in 1991 and conducted the band for two years. This band became the Valley Wind Ensemble in 1993 under the leadership of Carl Thompson and then Sharon Jeskey.
Click here if you would like to submit a local music story or photo. We'd love to post more!
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Marching Band circa 1945
Santa Ynez Union High School Band
circa 1950
Courtesy Curt Cragg
Top row: Adams (?) on left, third from left is Charlie Gott on euphonium, unknown tuba, Michael Barnes on euphonium, Ernie Cota, and Peter Grossi on trumpet on the far right
3rd row from bottom: Carolyn Mackey 3rd from left, Don Campbell, trumpet, 2nd from left; Terry Hubbard on far right
Peter Grossi, trumpet, top row (4th row) far right
Second bottom row: far left Billy McGinnis (saxophone), Polly Hutchinson (?), Tenor Saxophone unknown, Don Whitford on trombone (?), Bernie Davis (trombone), Burton Parsons on trumpet (?), Henry Grossi far right on trumpet
Bottom row: Ann Campbell (flute), Percussionists Vernal Gillham (?), John Arbelight, Dick Christense, Band Director Mr. Rinn
Contact us if you can recognize a musician.
Courtesy Curt Cragg
Top row: Adams (?) on left, third from left is Charlie Gott on euphonium, unknown tuba, Michael Barnes on euphonium, Ernie Cota, and Peter Grossi on trumpet on the far right
3rd row from bottom: Carolyn Mackey 3rd from left, Don Campbell, trumpet, 2nd from left; Terry Hubbard on far right
Peter Grossi, trumpet, top row (4th row) far right
Second bottom row: far left Billy McGinnis (saxophone), Polly Hutchinson (?), Tenor Saxophone unknown, Don Whitford on trombone (?), Bernie Davis (trombone), Burton Parsons on trumpet (?), Henry Grossi far right on trumpet
Bottom row: Ann Campbell (flute), Percussionists Vernal Gillham (?), John Arbelight, Dick Christense, Band Director Mr. Rinn
Contact us if you can recognize a musician.
Santa Ynez Valley Band from 1956
Front row: Arlen “Bo” Pedersen, Pat King, Henry Klein
Middle row: Margaret King, Lee Lybarger, John Harris, Jerry Christensen
Back row: Neil, John Christensen
Courtesy Jerry Christensen
Front row: Arlen “Bo” Pedersen, Pat King, Henry Klein
Middle row: Margaret King, Lee Lybarger, John Harris, Jerry Christensen
Back row: Neil, John Christensen
Courtesy Jerry Christensen
SYV Wind Ensemble at St Mark's in Los Olivos, 2010