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)
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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.
2023-24 Performances
Joining us on campus for an in-person event? For always-up-to-date health and safety protocols, check our Audience Information webpage before you leave home.
Download concert program in advance.
Saturday, October 21 | 3pm (approx. 2.5 hour duration)
Paul Davenport Theatre
Community, Connection, and Celebration
This is a joint concert with the Symphonic Band. Planned program includes Aspen Jubilee by Ron Nelson featuring Candice Luo, soprano (1st year DMA student); Elegy for a Young American by Ronald Lo Presti; Illyrian Dances by Guy Woolfenden; and Redline Tango by John Mackey.
Friday, December 1 | 7:30pm (approx. 1.5 hour duration)
Paul Davenport Theatre
Echoes and Reverberations
Planned program includes March in F by Ludwig van Beethoven arr. Reynolds; Geschwindmarsch by Beethoven by Paul Hindemith; Pena Amaya by Clarence Hines; Variations on America by Charles Ives arr. Schuman/Rhoades; and Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein arr. Lavender.
Saturday, February 10 | 3pm (approx. 2.5 hour duration)
Paul Davenport Theatre
Real or Imagined?
This is a joint concert with the Symphonic Band. Planned program includes Elfin Thunderbolt by Barbara Galbraith; Song for Silent Voices by Wayne Oquin; La Procession Du Rocio by Joaquin Turina arr. Reed; Instinctive Travels by Michael Markowski; plus the 2023 Winds, Brass and Percussion Student Concerto Competition winner Isaac Lee, percussion, performing the first movement of Creston’s Concertino for Marimba and Band.
Friday, April 5 | 7:30pm (approx. 1.5 hour duration)
Paul Davenport Theatre
To Amuse and Beguile
Planned program includes Nitro by Frank Ticheli; Clouds in Collage by Tetsunosuke Kushida; Images by Jose Suner-Oriola; Easter Monday on the White House Lawn John Philip Sousa, arr. Rogers; Dope by Katahj Copley, featured Composer-in-Residence this week at the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
This concert is supported by the Music Undergraduate Gift Fund.
Performance Excerpts
“American Hymnsong Suite” (Excerpts), Dwayne Milburn
Conductor, Dr. Richardson
2021
“Polytechnique”, Jonathan Dagenais
Conductor, Dr. Richardson
2017-18
“Tabula Rasa”, Don Macdonald, Mark Hopkins
Conductor, Dr. Richardson
Canada 150 Concert
Excerpt from “Sit de Plata”, José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana
Excerpt from “Give Us This Day”, David Maslanka
Excerpt from “Metallëphônic Remix”, Daniel Nelson/Arr. Anders Högstedt
Conductor, Dr. Richardson
2018-19
Excerpt from “Pershing”, Gregory Fritze
Excerpt from “One Life Beautiful”, Julie Giroux
Conductor, Dr. Richardson
2018-19
Recordings
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