Western University Wind Ensemble
Music Director
Auditions
Audition required. Open to all Western University students.
Rehearsals
Mondays & Wednesdays
3:30 - 5:30pm
Complete Rehearsal Information
Repertoire
Download Cumulative Repertoire (PDF)
Quick Links
Evolving from the Symphonic Band, the Western University Wind Ensemble was established by Jerome Summers in the 1980s. Acknowledged as one of the finest wind bands in Canada, the Wind Ensemble is indebted to the leadership of past conductors: Donald McKellar, James Ford, Charles Dalkert, Wayne Jeffrey, Jerome Summers, David McKinney and Gary McCumber. With the appointment of Dr. Colleen Richardson, in 2006, the Wind Ensemble continues its journey towards excellence in performance and wind band education.
The Wind Ensemble is open to all Western Students. An audition is required for participation. Repertoire is selected from standard wind ensemble literature, works for chamber ensembles, transcriptions, concerti, and contemporary works. Although core repertoire is the largest programming component, ensemble members will periodically be exposed to iconic wind chamber music, ranging from the antiphonal music of Gabrieli or Classical Period Harmonie music, to the masterpieces of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Transcriptions are an important part of the history of the band, especially within the military and professional band traditions, and these are honoured through the performance of selected works. Concerti feature faculty, guests, or students. Students are selected through a competitive process.
2025-26 Performances
| Joining us on campus for an in-person event? Please visit the Audience Information page before joining us on campus, and always check the Events Calendar on the day of the event for any schedule changes. | |
| Wind Ensemble concerts are approximately 1.5 hours in length unless otherwise noted. | Download concert programs |
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 3pm | approx. 2 hours
Paul Davenport Theatre
Being Present
The Western University Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble join together in musical celebration as they take the stage for their first performance of the year! Planned repertoire from the Wind Ensemble includes Downey Overture by Oscar Navarro, Redwood by Ryan George, Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn by Norman Dello Joio and La Ruta by David Pont featuring second-year DMA soprano Jia Li.
Friday, Dec. 5 | 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre
Cinematic Undercurrents
This concert has something for everyone. Are you a video game enthusiast? It features BMus (Composition) student Jerill Morales' transcription of Baking the Wondertart from the video game Cuphead by Kris Maddigan. Are you a young Jedi? Join us for Hunsberger’s arrangement of John Williams’ Star Wars Trilogy. You don't want to miss this concert!
Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3pm | approx. 1 hour
Paul Davenport Theatre
Colourful Tapestries
Join us for a planned program of Tuttarana by Reena Esmail, Before the Dawn by David Biedenbender, Dionysiaques Op. 62 by Florent Schmitt (arr. Hauswirth) and wind ensemble masterwork Amen by GRAMMY-nominated composer, curator and activist Carlos Simon, Composer-in-Residence for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This concert will also feature this year's winner of the Winds, Brass and Percussion Student Concerto Competition (repertoire and soloist details TBD).
Friday, March 27 | 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre
Run to the Light
Planned programming for the Wind Ensemble’s final concert of the year includes Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein (arr. Beeler), Let My Love Be Heard by Jake Runestad, a feature of our percussion section on Mexican-American Composer Ivan Revino’s Run to the Light and David Maslanka's monumental Symphony No. 4.
Recordings
Subscribe to our monthly events email for event notifications year-round, or visit music.uwo.ca/events for more information.
