CONDUCTOR - Brad Gronroos
Brad Gronroos has been a music educator for the past 35 years, and Band Director at North Salinas High School in Salinas since 1981.
A graduate of Watsonville High School in 1972, Mr. Gronroos studied music education, performance and conducting at Cabrillo College, and at San Jose State University. He also took advanced studies at the American Band College in Ashland Oregon.
Mr. Gronroos has been an active member of the Central Coast Section of the California Music Educator's Association, serving on the board for several years, a founding member of the Western band Association, and a concert and marching band adjudicator for the Northern California Band Association.
Brad Gronroos has been pleased to serve as the Assistant Conductor for the Watsonville Community Band for the past 10 years before assuming his current duties as Conductor.
Gene joined the Watsonville Band in 1966, while a sophomore at Watsonville High School. After graduating from San Jose State University Mr. Smith began his career in music education in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. His 30 year tenure includes 18 years at the middle school level and 18 years as the Watsonville High School Band Director. He rired from the Band in 2012 after 35years of dedicated service.
Mr.Smith was honored as the Outstanding Music Educator of 1996 by the California Association for Music Education, Central Coast Section, and was inducted into the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame in 2005. He was elected President of CMEA-Central Coast Section three times and has been re-elected President starting in June, 2008. He is a member of CMEA, MENC, CBDNA, and CBDA.
Longtime Band supporters know the name "Bert Viales" goes with "Watsonville" as "Martinelli" goes with apples. Though a San Francisco native, Bert helped spread the name of our town over four continents and 15 nations. He occupied the podium for 39 years, and defined the musical style of the Band.
Gonzalo "Bert" Viales joined the Watsonville Sciots Band in 1953, and became conductor of the Watsonville Band in 1957. With only a short hiatus in the middle, Bert retired as Conductor in 1999, but returned to the Watsonville Band where he started - in the trumpet setion in 2005, retiring finally in 2010.
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