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San Mateo Elks Concert Band

San Mateo Elks Band Plays Aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien

The San Mateo Elks Concert Band was pleased to perform aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien during the annual Seamen’s Memorial Cruise on National Maritime Day, May 22. The cruise honored and remembered the men and women who built, sailed, and protected Liberty Ships during World War II. The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is the last unaltered Liberty Ship, a veteran of the Normandy invasion.
 
During the cruise, just after sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, wreaths honoring our veterans were laid at sea. Our band director, James Langdell, helped lay at sea a wreath honoring our late band chairman, Walt Janssen.

The San Mateo Elks Lodge is one of few Elks Lodges in the country to have its own band. The San Mateo Elks Concert Band, founded in 1959, consists of 30-35 volunteer musicians, playing all kinds of instruments from piccolos to tubas. The repertory consists of big band music, Broadway tunes, holiday music, military marches and patriotic songs, Oktoberfest music, rock and roll, oldies but goodies, light classics, and lots more. Members of the Concert Band also form smaller groups such as the Dixieland Band and the Brass Band, each consisting of about a dozen members, which play on special occasions.

Throughout the year, the band plays for events at the San Mateo Elks Lodge such as monthly dinner concerts (typically the fourth Wednesday evening of the month), members’ holiday events, the Flag Day ceremony, the installation of officers, and the annual memorial service. The band puts on an annual scholarship concert at which talented young players from local high schools perform solos.

The band also plays for many events sponsored by civic and charitable organizations in the surrounding communities, averaging about two performances per month. In a typical year, the band plays for community parades, pancake breakfasts, Easter egg hunts, Oktoberfests, celebrations for holidays such as Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s day, the annual lighting of the boats at Pillar Point Harbor, and charity events such as Relay for Life. The band frequently performs at centers for seniors and veterans, and participates in many events honoring veterans. The band has performed aboard cruises of the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, for Flag Day ceremonies at the Yountville Veterans’ Home, and for a Veterans’ Day ceremony at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno. During a special memorial cruise of the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, we honored our late band chairman, Walt Janssen, by laying a wreath at sea, just after sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.

The band welcomes new members – please contact band director James Langdell at 650-504-8046. Rehearsals take place at the Lodge most Tuesday evenings.

Click HERE for a Printer-Friendly Version our 2011-12 Elks Concert Band, Dixieland Band and Brass Band Schedule.

If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even better by the presence of the San Mateo Elks Concert Band, please share your ideas with Bill Bates by phoning 650-212-0252.