Keeping a Great American Art Form Alive
Under the expert direction of Mark Toffelmier, the SwingMasters are an 18-piece ensemble performing big-band music from the 1930s to the present — memorializing the legacies of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, and the leaders who defined the era.
The purpose of The Swingmasters Big Band Promotion Organization, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is to promote public awareness and education about the "big band" style of music, and to support other charitable and educational tax-exempt organizations — keeping this unique American art form alive and bringing joy to young and old alike.
Our Four Objectives
Support the Band
Provide insurance, rehearsal facilities, and music — and low-cost entertainment for the activities of other fund-raising organizations.
Big Band in Schools
Play for school events, invite students to "sit in," share our music library, and sponsor jazz improvisation workshops at local high schools.
Support Other Bands
Share our music library and mailing lists with other local adult big bands, and promote them through social media.
Develop Venues
Work with facility managers and dance clubs to create new venues for live big-band performance across the region.
Led by Mark Toffelmier
Musical Director Mark Toffelmier leads the SwingMasters' 18 players through a deep book of classics and modern arrangements. Many members are — or have been — music educators; others are doctors, engineers, and business owners. Each brings a unique voice to a collective sound that's second to none in the Sacramento area.
A Past Director of the SwingMasters, German helped lead the band before Mark Toffelmier and remains part of its story and community.
Warner remains an active, contributing member and a driving force behind the band's community work.
Book Us, or Help Keep the Music Alive
Every booking and every gift supports the band and its education work across Sacramento.