ASU Wind Ensembles

The Arizona State University Wind Ensembles constitutes the School of Music’s premiere wind band experience. The numerous ensembles comprising this innovative program offer students a wide array of performance and educational experiences via the study of repertoire ranging from historic wind band literature through a diversity of contemporary music.  Its instrumentation includes multiple complete consorts of all wind instrument families, a large percussion group, and a small group of string, piano, guitar, and harp players. James Paul Gee coined the term “affinity spaces” to describe the emerging “creative and learning communities” found online. Such arrangements allow for participation in a mutually attractive activity at multiple levels of engagement within an environment that is continuously open to those with various skill levels, effectively promoting the growth of all participants. This concept is the driving force behind ASU’s Wind Ensembles paradigm.

Rather than single ensembles sitting in separate rehearsal rooms for an entire semester, a large block of time and multiple rooms allows for the free flow of students and faculty between numerous ensemble spaces and throughout various artistic/educational ventures that are centered on a rich assortment of musical and trans-media projects. During the academic year, each student might participate in projects that focus on: traditional large or small band performance; mixed chamber ensembles utilizing common and/or unique instrumentation; a project in which electronic instruments are combined with acoustic instruments; small or large ensembles in which the goal is not public performance, but experience in world music, the extemporaneous composition of music, or enhancement of pedagogical skills; and trans-disciplinary projects, encompassing myriad existing and evolving art forms.

The Wind Ensembles experience is designed to serve as an educational/musical bridge between: amateur and professional ensembles; personal musical aspirations and collaborative musical goals; and formal musical studies and practical musical experiences.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:25-4:25 p.m.

The Wind Ensemble is open to all students by audition!  Auditions are held prior to becoming a member. Auditions are held the first week of school, every fall, or by arrangement with the director of bands.

See Audition Details