Kevin Galloway

A talented musician who has played with a who's-who list of stars and a number of bands, Kevin Galloway has made his biggest mark in music as the band director at Rancho Medanos Jr. High since 1991.

He grew up in Hayward, Ca playing my saxophone at the Foursquare Church where his father was the pastor. He attended Sunset High School where their Jazz Band his Jr. year took 6th place in the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival. He was in the music program at Chabot College under the tutelage of Frank Sumares. While working on his teaching credentials he performed with the Cal State Hayward Jazz Ensemble that was under the direction of David Eshelman.

Graduating from Chico State with a BA in Music Education and Performance, he worked two years in the Contra Costa Unified School District teaching high school, junior high and elementary music before joining the Pittsburg Unified School District. In addition to his duties as band director, he has taught jazz band, two beginner bands, wind ensemble and concert bands. This is Kevin’s 31st year, teaching band for Pittsburg Unified School District. He has always tried to bring his performing experience into the classroom.

Kevin Galloway plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophone as well as the flute. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Mel Torme, Clark Terr, Louie Bellson, Bobby Hutcherson, Peter Tork (of the Monkees), Robert Cray and John Lee Hooker. He has opened up for the Buddy Rich Band. He performed with Rob Schneider and Bob Sarlatte at the Gamble Ranch in Napa. He also made an album with Phil Woods.

He has performed professionally with a number of bands in the Bay Area and Napa area such as the GTS Band, Special Guests Band, the Giant Garage Spiders, Road Ville Road Kill Big Band, Friends of Ken Band and has begun performing recently Pittsburg favorites and PEAHOF Inductees Vocalese and the Boogiemen.

He is proud of the number of students who have gone on to play for the Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band that has played in New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and also played in parades in London and Rome. He is pleased by the number of his students who have gone on to play professionally or have become band directors themselves. To name a few:Brittany Brooks, Maria Gellepes, Fernando Lozano, Philip Golden, Roberto Paez, CJ Palmer and Jessica Krone. He gave Jennifer Martinez and Juliana Martinez private saxophone lessons when they were Hillview Jr. High students.

But perhaps his greatest pleasure comes from the number of second generation students of previous band members he has taught and watching another generation carry on love and excitement for music.