German Gonzalez is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Golden Gate Park Band
Dr. 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 coaches the brass section for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.
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 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.
Since childhood, his passion for music was inspired by Latin American rhythm and annual school field trips to the SF Symphony children’s concerts. His first participation with community bands began in the summer after his freshman year in high school. He grew up in Pacifica, CA. In his retirement he currently lives is Sacramento again, and is a freelance musician as well as a music director of a swing band.