Our Conductor

Indiana native Mr. Kay Raney was raised in Southern California and came to the Bay Area to study with Menotti protege Stanley Hollingsworth, who was then teaching at San Jose State University. Mr. Raney received his M.A. in Music Composition from San Jose State University in 1963.

A multi-talented musician, Mr. Raney plays many instruments, including the string bass, piano, trombone and recorder. He has sung bass with the San Jose State A Cappella Choir and later with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He was also music director at Wesley Methodist Church for ten years.

Mr. Raney has worked with theater and dance groups, composing incidental music and writing the scores for several productions, including an educational film. In the past few years, he has composed two musicals for children's theater: Tom Sawyer and Alice in Wonderland. His orchestral compositions include: Concerto #1 for Clarinet, Concerto #2 in d minor for Clarinet, Concerto in a minor for Tuba, Christmas Overture, Concerto for Violin and Viola, and Concerto for Brass Quintet and Orchestra. Chamber music compositions include: The Piano Quartet in C Major, Duets for Trombone & Clarinet, 12 Songs of Emily Dickinson (Soprano), 16 Songs of Emily Dickinson for Alto, Clarinet and Piano, and 5 Songs of A.E. Housman (tenor).

Mr. Raney has taught in the public schools of Pescadero since 1968. He has been a member of the Coastside Community Orchestra since 1985, playing string bass. He was named Assistant Conductor of the group in 1988, and assumed the role of music director in the fall of 1991.