The Long Beach Gazette wrote an article about the annual Movies in the Park summer series and how this year the Shoreline Symphonic Winds are used to enhance the atmosphere. Continuing reading below to learn more about this amazing band and the free community event.

Shoreline Symphonic Winds Entertains Long Beach Movie Goers

By Jennifer Rice Epstein  

Movies in the Park has always been about a lot more than movies.

The annual summer series, organized by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine with sponsorship from Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks, creates a carnival atmosphere during events.

Before the kid-friendly movie begins, families picnic and take advantage of activities like face painting, games and the moon bounce.

And, on some evenings, these activities take place to the sounds of the Shoreline Symphonic Winds (also known as the Long Beach Community Band), a group of about 65 amateur musicians based in Long Beach.

Pat Mullen, a trumpet player who also heads the Long Beach Community Band’s Board of Directors, said the band “gives players a reason to pick up their instruments” after their days of high school or college marching band are over.

“Even though I have a day job, I didn’t want to stop playing,” Mullen, who calls himself a “reformed professional trumpet player,” said.

The band plays throughout the year, both locally and in community band festivals — and in summer, they play at select Movies in the Park events. In keeping with the theme, the band focuses on songs from film soundtracks.

“It’s lots of John Williams,” Mullen said. “While we’re playing, it’s mostly for the adults — the kids are still running around.”

Shoreline Symphonic Winds is a shoestring operation, and the musicians are unpaid, Mullen said. So they have worked out a creative solution: they trade their musical talents for park-supplied rehearsal and storage place.

The band, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, is always looking for new members, Mullen said. All that’s needed is a high-intermediate or better level of musicianship, a willingness to practice, and the desire to perform.

“I think if you’re going to do something, you should try your best,” he said.

Shoreline Symphonic Winds will play at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, at Wardlow Park (3457 Stanbridge Ave.). The movie that night will be “Inside Out.”

They’ll also perform at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) before “Zootopia” and at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Pan American Park (5157 Centralia Ave.) before “Pixels.”

For more information about Shoreline Symphonic Winds, visit shorelinewinds.org.

Jennifer Rice Epstein can be reached at jriceepstein@gazettes.com.