History of the Hayward Municipal Band

In the mid 1950's two gentlemen, Tony Nunes, a clarinet player, and Ed Mendonca, a drummer, had a dream about forming a professional concert band in the city of Hayward for the purpose of performing a summer concert series which would be free to the public. Their vision was realized with the creation of the Hayward Municipal Band and the musicians were paid by the City of Hayward.

The Early Days

The first concert season was in the summer of 1957. The city also provided maroon and grey uniforms, and the maintenance department of the city, which was headed by Ed Mendonca, built a wooden bandstand. Tony Morelli played in the clarinet section and in 1960 took over the leadership of the band. The band gave concerts in Memorial Park on the tiered wooden bandstand for several years. The audiences were treated to marches, patriotic pieces, classical music, pop selections, and novelty numbers.

The band also performed at the Alameda County Fair on Hayward Day at the Fair and Marched in the Veterans' Day parade each November. When the Zucchini Festival started in Hayward, the band played there as well. The band performed several years at Weekes Park on the 4th of July. The Hayward Band has provided patriotic music for the Memorial Day Observance at Lone Tree Cemetery every year starting in 1957.

The band in 1961

Morelli Family sewing the banner for parades, 1973

Over the years, the city bought the band a set of yellow, and later blue, coats and hats.

In February of 1998 Tony Morelli passed away suddenly. His daughter, Kathy Morelli Maier, who had joined the band in 1975 in the flute and percussion sections, and who had served as the assistant conductor, assumed the leadership of the band.

The band performs Sunday Concerts on the Tony Morelli Bandstand in Memorial Park, built in 1968 and dedicated to his memory during the summer of 1998.

Lolita Morelli began singing with the band summer 1977

Tony Morelli conducting the band in 1983

Tony & Lolita Morelli

Tony Morelli dedicated every spring and summer to rehearsing and directing the Hayward Municipal Band for 38 years. His mission was to provide quality concert band music for the city of Hayward. Tony graduated from Hayward High School and earned his music degree and teaching credential at San Francisco State. Soon after college, he was drafted and played clarinet in the army band at Fort Ord.

Next came a music teaching career for 34 years in the Castro Valley and then San Leandro School Districts, while at the same time assuming the position of musical conductor of the Hayward Band. Under Morelli's leadership the Hayward Band grew to 40 musicians and greatly expanded its repertoire. Mr. Morelli carefully planned the concerts to include a wide variety of music so that every audience member would feel they had been touched musically and as though at least one selection held special meaning for them.

Tony was an amazing conductor and got tremendous results from the band. Always looking for new musical talent, Tony hired musicians from local high schools and colleges and built an exceptional band. This tradition of excellence continues to this day.

Tony's wife, Lolita attended San Francisco State and was also a music educator, She was a vocal music major, but she and Tony managed to meet in the clarinet section of the college band. In the late 1960's she brought her junior high school choir to sing with the Hayward Band at two of the Memorial Day Observances at Lone Tree Cemetery.

In 1977, Lolita became a vocal soloist with the band and later joined the clarinet section. When Tony passed away Lolita assumed the management of the band in order to keep his legacy alive and keep the music going in Hayward.

Kathy Morelli Maier conducting the band, 2002