Symphonic Winds

The Williams Symphonic Winds is a 40-50 member ensemble dedicated to presenting performances of the most significant music written for the chamber and large wind ensemble mediums. Now in his eighth year as Music Drector, Steven Dennis Bodner has developed the ensemble's identity as a leading proponent of the performance of new music on campus. The ensemble has commisioned and premiered a number of works by contemporary composers, including Williams faculty and alumni. Recognized as one of the premier wind ensembles in New England, the Symphonic Winds performed at the 2006 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference.

In recent years, the Symphonic Winds has been noted for its adventurous and creative programming, reflected in numerous thematic concerts that seek to present traditional and contemporary works in provocative juxtapositions. The recent performance repertoire of the Symphonic Winds ranges from the Baroque to the present and includes original music of Henry Purcell, W. A. Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn, Reynaldo Hahn, Darius Milhaud, Charles Ives, Silvestre Revueltas, Kurt Weill, Astor Piazzolla, Paul Hindemith, Percy Grainger, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gordon Jacob, Aaron Coplan, William Schuman, Vincent Persichetti, and Leonard Bernstein; as well as music of today's leading composers, such as Louis Andriessen, John Corigliano, Michael Colgrass, Richard Danielpour, Michael Gandolfi, Kenneth Hesketh, Karel Husa, David Maslanka, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Steve Reich, and Frank Ticheli. The ensemble is open to all college woodwind, brass, string, piano, and percussion players and rehearsals begin in September in preparation for several public concerts held in Chapin Hall.

Visit the Symphonic Winds website for more information.

To see pictures of Symphonic Winds, click here.