President
Mark Kamp, President of the Orange County Preservation Bands beginning in January of 2025, has been a member of the group since 1989. Mark grew up in Fullerton, CA and played the saxophone from 4th grade until the present. He went from Fullerton Union HS to Fullerton College, and then on to San Diego State University where he received his BA in Music Education. Mark met the bandβs founder, Randy Coleman, when teaching HS band both in the San Diego area and Orange County from 1983-86, and then worked under Randy in the music department of Santa Ana Unified School District from 1988-2006. Mark taught elementary music in Santa Ana from 1986-2016, and when Randy retired from his position as Fine Arts Department Administrator in 2006 and moved back to his home state of Colorado, Mark took over the directing duties of the Concert and Swing Bands until his own retirement in 2016. After 5 years away from the band, Mark rejoined in 2021 and has contributed to the music-making ever since. Mark has been married to his lovely wife, Bonnie, for 42 years and has a daughter and son and three grandchildren.
Treasurer
Alan Ochiai is a lifelong resident of Orange County and has been playing the trumpet since the fourth grade. Music has always been an integral part of his life and certainly his passion. Alan honed his musical skills through the Tustin Unified School District music programs and continued his studies through college and beyond. The Orange County Preservation Bands provided him with yet another opportunity to pursue music and offer live musical entertainment to the community.
A golf professional by trade, Alan also has a musically talented family: his wife Kathy sings and plays the piano and drums, and their grown sons, Tyler and Ted, play drums and bass respectively. In addition to his musical and professional pursuits, Alan is an active member of Bugles Across America, an organization that provides live buglers to play Taps at military funerals.
Secretary
Eric Smith has played in both the Concert and Jazz Bands since 1989. He started as a musician in 4th grade and played in elementary, middle, and high school concert, jazz, and marching bands. A demanding college curriculum and very few musical group opportunities at University of California San Diego limited participation in music from 1980β88. However, Eric was able to enjoy one marching band season with the San Diego State University Aztecs in 1980. Shortly after graduation as a mechanical engineer, he moved to Orange County in 1989.
Finding work in the commercial insurance industry as a risk control consultant, Eric joined the Orange County Concert Band where he met his future wife, Karen. They were married in 1990 and had a beautiful reception with live music provided by the Orange County Jazz Band. During their 34 years of marriage, they continue making music together in the Orange County Concert Band which is a very important part of their lives together.
During that time, Karen built a very successful cookie and sandwich business while Eric continued advancing in his career until retirement in 2017. They have two children; Amy, who is currently taking over the family business, and Kyle who is finishing a teaching credential in music education. Kyle is also a second generation member of the Orange County Concert Band.
Community Outreach
Alicia Abifadel is currently the music director at Santiago Charter Middle School where she teachers band, orchestra and guitar classes. She is in her 17th year of teaching. The Santiago music program has received special recognition under her direction including NAMM’s Best Communities for Music Education, May Day Parade Awards, and grants from the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Alicia was awarded the Orange Unified Teacher of the Year in 2017. Alicia began playing trumpet in middle school and never stopped. She loves making music with the wonderful people in the OCCB. She also enjoys playing guitar and performing in church and rock bands on both instruments. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach in music education and a master’s degree from Concordia University in school administration.
Event Coordinator
Wendy Wilson Graft has played in the Orange County Concert Band and Jazz Band since 2002. She began playing trombone when she was about 8 years old. She played through all her school years and by high school was playing in marching band, symphonic band, stage band/jazz band, and wind ensemble. Most of the enjoyment of her high school years was due to being a member of an award-winning band program that traveled to national/international music festivals.
Wendy continued playing trombone in marching band, symphonic band and laboratory jazz band through college. Although she was not a music major, music was always her passion. She toured around the area with the symphonic band and had the opportunity to travel with the band to Acapulco & Mexico City. Her ability to travel as a student was only afforded by being a band member. Wendy loves all types of music and loves playing music with the OCCB & OC Jazz members. She believes it is very important to keep preserving live band music and to bring the joy of music to students and seniors alike.