Geoffrey Gallegos, a San Francisco native and sixth generation Californian has been a fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area music community for 40 years. Following a year long search, Maestro Gallegos was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the West County Winds in 2015. During his tenure, he has expanded the repertoire and elevated the artistic standards of the WCW exponentially.

From 1985 to 1990, Maestro Gallegos served as Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Chamber Players Orchestra. In 1991 he was appointed Principal Conductor of the San Francisco Concerto Orchestra and continued in that capacity until 2006. In 2003, he was engaged as Assistant Conductor of the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra (N. CA) and served in that position until 2008. It was also in 2003 that Maestro Gallegos made his debut with Golden Gate Opera in San Francisco conducting I Pagliacci and was subsequently invited to assume the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor. During his tenure, which concluded in 2020, he conducted the majority of GGO main-stage productions to critical acclaim. In 2004, Maestro Gallegos was engaged to become Music Director and Conductor of the Kensington (CA) Symphony Orchestra, only the third in the Orchestra’s 45 plus year history, a position he currently holds. In 2021, he was appointed the new Music Director and Conductor of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. He has also guest conducted numerous ensembles and opera companies throughout the Bay Area, US and in Europe.

Maestro Gallegos has a deep commitment to music education. In 2001, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Golden Gate Philharmonic, an all-city string youth orchestra in San Francisco that offers an integrated program of orchestral and chamber music performance, and music theory. In 2023, he was elevated to the position of Artistic/Executive Director and Principal Conductor. From 2001-2010, Maestro Gallegos participated in the Artist in Residence program at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (S.O.T.A.) in San Francisco where he served as guest conductor of the orchestra and wind ensembles. During the 2000-2001 academic year, he served as Conductor of the San Francisco State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. From 2007-2010, Maestro Gallegos was the Instrumental Music Director and Liaison at The Nueva School in Hillsborough where, among many duties, he oversaw the prestigious Menuhin/Dowling instrumental music program and organized and managed the Menuhin/Dowling Competition for Young Musicians. Maestro Gallegos has served as an adjudicator for a number of youth competitions, master-classes, and workshops throughout the Bay Area, and was invited to participate as a jury member for the annual Parade of Orchestras Festival held in Honolulu in 2014.

Maestro Gallegos studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Preparatory School and San Francisco State University, completing, with honors, a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Education and Conducting. Advanced studies in orchestral and operatic conducting continued at the University of Iowa School of Music, where he received a Master of Arts degree with High Distinction and served as Conductor of the University Chamber Orchestra. Four times he was awarded fellowships to the prestigious Conductors Institute held at West Virginia University and the University of South Carolina. 2023 culminated an 18 year tenure as a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Music Center in San Francisco where he began his music journey with trumpet studies at the age of nine. Maestro Gallegos resides in San Francisco with his cat Rajah.

Sue Crum, Assistant Conductor

Sue Crum, born and raised in the midwest and moved to California in 2004. Sue joined West County Winds as an oboist in 2005 and became the group’s assistant conductor in her second season.  In 2010, Sue stepped up to the podium to complete the season as the group’s Music Director - successfully closing the 25th Anniversary Season.

Sue attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan earning her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. After her graduation, Sue worked at the Interlochen Arts Academy and performed with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. Her teaching career began in Cleveland, Ohio where Sue taught for one year.  The next year she moved to Boise, Idaho for a teaching position in the Boise Schools. While in Boise, Sue freelanced with the Boise Philharmonic and the Boise Ballet Orchestra and completed her Master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of Idaho. 

After moving to California, Sue taught for two years in the Albany Schools. Through all her school teaching appointments, she has maintained an active private teaching studio.

In addition to playing and conducting with West County Winds, Sue is the Music Director for the Oakland Community Orchestra and performs regularly with the San Francisco Wind Symphony.

Board members

Section Leaders

Music Director
Geoffrey Gallegos

Assistant Conductor
Sue Crum

President
Cherry Normington

Vice President
Ray Iniguez

Librarian
Suz Houghton

Logistics Coordinator
Sean Dongre

Publicity
Coordinator
Bob Bauer

Secretary
Ellen DeCarlo

Treasurer
Pat Schlesinger

Webmaster
Michele Friedman

Flute
Ellen DeCarlo

Clarinet
Cherry Normington

Double Reed
Sue Crum

Saxophone
Pat Schlesinger

Trumpet
Martin Silva

French Horn
Paul Allen

Trombone
David Hemphill

Low Brass
Suz Houghton

Percussion
Bea O’Keefe