Conductor Emeritus GONZALO H. VIALES C. is a graduate of San Francisco State College with a B.A. and an M.A. in Music Education. After 37 years of serving the Salinas Union High School District as an instrumental and vocal teacher, assistant principal and principal of North Salinas High School in California, he retired in 1988.

Mr. Viales has been a member of the Watsonville Community Band for 52 years, 10 years as drum major and a musician in the Band and 38 years as conductor.

In 1990 he founded and has been the conductor of the Pacific Brass Band, a British Style Brass Band, including some members from the Watsonville Community Band. He has been the guest conductor of the National Band of Guatemala, Sacramento State College Community Band, several school honor bands and he has served as a trumpet and band clinician for many schools throughout northern California.

In April 2002, Mr. Viales was presented with the First Scroll of Honor for Exceptional Service to Bands and Community from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, Washington D.C.

In 2003 the Central Coast Section of the California Music Educators Association awarded him it’s First Lifetime Achievement Award for Dedication and Excellence.

The Band is fortunate to also have a well qualified assistant conductor who frequently takes over the conducting duties.

Brad Gronroos is a music educator in the Salinas district of Northern California.

We like to honor the memory of our late conductor Silvester "Mac" McElroy. In many concerts you will find that we play a circus march. Mac was a great supporter of circus music.