About Us
The Palos Verdes Symphonic Band, founded in 1962 and currently under the direction of Mark Hamamura and Eric Hankey, consists of over 60 local amateur and former professional musicians dedicated to bringing the best in concert band music to the South Bay community. Members include private and public-school music teachers, engineers, physicians, homemakers, and former university and military band musicians and college professors. Several individuals serve in community music theater and in church musical ensembles or as organists, and several have played in touring Big Bands.
Unique in Southern California, the ensemble provides a wide range of musical experiences and opportunities for musicians and enriches holiday and patriotic events for the residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding communities. The band gives concerts throughout the year at a variety of civic and charitable functions, including concerts for the City of Torrance, City of Ranchos Palos Verdes, and City of Rolling Hills Estates. The ensemble provides a wide range of musical programming, including ever popular marches and lighter pieces during the summer, traditional transcriptions of the works of the masters, and pieces written specifically for concert band. A formal program is given every spring and a holiday concert every December.
Artistic Leadership
Mark Hamamura, Conductor & Music Director
Eric Hankey, Conductor & Assistant Music Director
Len Pagarigan, Concert Coordinator
Marv Hixon, Librarian
Joanie Schoeny, Assistant Librarian
Board of Directors
Carol Levi, President
Loren Denker, Vice President
Dottie Rodman, Secretary
Lyn Shaw, Treasurer
Mary Beth Lemke, Member at Large
Suzy Seamans, Member at Large
Todd Hays, Member at Large
Cathy Pavlakovich, Member at Large
Brian Smith, Member at Large
Our Story
The Palos Verdes Symphonic Band has been a popular feature of the greater Los Angeles area musical scene since 1962 when it was founded by Dr. Eugene Reinaldo after he retired from his surgical practice on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Richard Schwalbe became director in 1973. The band became incorporated in 1982 as a non-profit organization and began receiving grants from Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates. Three overseas tours were completed under Mr. Schwabe, and successful performances were given in a dozen European cities. Director Emeritus Schwabe retired in 2005 after 32 years of dedication and leadership; his replacement, John E. Hall, III, relocated to the east coast in 2008 after three years of service to the band, and the baton was then passed on to Grant Sevdayan. David Stanton was selected to conduct the ensemble in 2011 and continued as Music Director until his passing in 2016. Christine Hayes was then selected as Music Director and continued her service until relocating to Alabama in 2021.