The Stonegate and Bridgeway Island Band program is proud of its 20+ year history of cultivating aspiring music students across all levels from beginner to advanced. Located in West Sacramento as part of the Washington Unified School District, these schools represent two of our 7 K-8 schools.

Mr. Bennett Lopez is an educator based in Sacramento, originally from Saratoga, California. Working in Los Angeles for many years, he has made the Sacramento Region his home where he continues to teach and perform music.

​Bennett is inspired and engaged in performing new works by living composers. ​Recently, he participated in an Earth Day commission with Alexis Alrich featuring 7 musicians for a dedication to the restoration of the Wolf Creek, an important waterway in Northern California. He has substituted with the Bay Area based - Quinteto Latino as a performing artist in educational outreach, and was a Seminario participant for their biennial symposium connecting musicians across the Latin spectrum. Bennett has performed across the world including Carnegie Hall,  Walt Disney Concert Hall, Bing Concert Hall, Dvorak Symphony Hall, Ljubljana Theater, ​and Slovak Radio Hall​ ​- live broadcast.

Passionate about education alongside his drive to perform, Lopez has maintained a private studio wherever he has traveled. As an active advocate for music in the public schools, Mr. Lopez has given clinics, sectionals, and taught ensemble rehearsals with various groups at local elementary, middle, and high schools. He currently teaches in the Washington Unified School District in California​ and is Department Chair for K-8th grade visual and performing arts.

Mr. Lopez earned a Master’s degree in Oboe Performance at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA under the direction and guidance of Allan Vogel and Joel Timm. Previously, he received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the University of the Pacific where he was a Theodore Presser Undergraduate Scholar.

Previous Director

Delores Henson, the previous director, started the program at Bridgeway Island Elementary when it was created in 2002 and the Stonegate in 2007. She retired in 2024 and enjoys spending her time traveling and participating in local band organizations including the Sacramento Symphonic Winds.