Dr. German Gonzalez
Music Director & Conductor
Dr. German Gonzalez earned a D.M.A. from Arizona State University, Herberger School of Music where he studied music education, and conducting with Gary Hill. He received a B.A. in music from San Jose State and a Masters in Conducting from CSU, Sacramento where he studied with Robert Halseth. He is grateful for his other conducting mentors: Frederick Fennell, Jack Stamp, John Whitwell, and Alan McMurray.
He is a recently retired music educator and taught music at every school level, from elementary general music to middle and high school instrumental music programs to college and university positions. His final position was at Taylor Middle School in Millbrae.
Dr. Gonzalez also was the Music Director and Conductor for the SF Civic Symphony 2010-15, and due to his leadership, he was recognized as a “mover and shaker” in the SF community by LAMM, an organization of Latin American business people. He also directed a Jefferson Union HS District Adult Community Band where he was named the “Hometown Maestro” in the Pacifica Magazine. He served as the brass section coach for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra for 7 years.
German has served in music university positions at St. Cloud State University and at Oregon State University. In these two similar positions he taught conducting, music education, and directed the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Dr. Gonzalez was one of the first University Conductors to stream concerts on the internet at both universities. During his time in Sacramento, CA he resurrected the concert band program at Cosumnes River College.
His musical adventures focused on community across the country: the SF Area, Sacramento, Tempe/Phoenix, St Cloud and Minneapolis, MN, Portland, Corvallis, Eugene, OR, and Vancouver, WA. With every community experience, Gonzalez has actively participated in community music groups either as a conductor or trumpet player. In Oregon, he was the Music Director and Conductor for the Eugene Symphonic Band, a select community band for 5 years. As a trumpeter, he played in community orchestras, bands, chamber groups, and music theater.
An extensive interview of Maestro Gonzalez from the San Francisco Senior Beat is linked here.