Wind Band Literature takes a close look at the best of the wind band repertoire, from chamber music to huge symphonic works, from beginning band to professional level. It is not a comprehensive repertoire site, but rather a collection of resources compiled and created by conductor Andy Pease. These are tools to share with students and colleagues to help enhance understanding of what makes the music we play so powerful and meaningful to us.
Featured content for Spring 2026:
This spring is going to be very full indeed! Among my home groups (each of which has its own page), the Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble is presenting a Pops concert on January 25 and a USA 250 concert on April 26. And the Hartwick College Wind Ensemble is performing at Carnegie Hall on March 23!! We’ll preview that music and more at home on March 10, then present a tribute to our seniors on April 30.
I’ll show up on plenty of other podiums in the meantime. I’ll start in the Wappinger Central School District for their WindFest on February 18 and 19. The district has two high schools, each with their own band, both of which I’ll conduct, and they also combine for the final concert. Here’s what we’ll play:
John Jay High School Symphonic Band (Ryan Banda, director)
Drawing Mars – Michael Markowski
First Suite in E-flat – Gustav Holst
Roy C. Ketcham High School Wind Ensemble (James Trainor, director)
Folk Dances – Dmitri Shostakovich
Hymn for the Innocent – Julie Giroux
Let Me Be Frank With You – John Mackey
Combined bands:
Wishes and Wantings – Kelijah Dunton
On February 27 and 28, I’ll be with the Broome County (NY) All County Band. They will play:
Fanfare on Row Your Boat – Andrew Pease
Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo – Malcolm Arnold
I’ll be at the NYSBDA Sympsium on March 6-8, where I will interview my mentor, Gary Hill, as part of our Living Legend series.
I’ll travel to Rhode Island to conduct their Junior All State band on March 13-15. We will play:
American Riversongs – Pierre La Plante
I’ll attend the CBDNA Eastern Division conference in Amherst, MA on March 19-21, where I’ll present on my amazing experience with Afro-Peruvian music.
More to come, I’m sure!
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Why does classical music need conductors, but other music styles do not? Is it possible to have a classical concert without a conductor at all?
Great question – the short answer is that classical music often uses large numbers of people, sometimes over 100 in a single performance. Ensembles that large (and even much smaller groups) need a single leader both to stay together and to develop a common vision of the music, hence the conductor. As for classical music without conductors, I would refer you to any small chamber group (e.g., brass quintet or woodwind quintet), as well as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, a larger group which famously never uses a conductor.
Conducting asked, it is possible to have a classical concert without a conductor. The answer is “Yes”. It just means that the musicians count well and listen to each other well. They will need someone in rehearsal but can work without one in performance.
I’m really glad to have read your list of forthcoming concerts and the literature with composers and arrangers. As a Euphonium (primary) and Trombone (secondary) player, I am always striving to learn new music as well as listen to Symphonic Bands/Concert Bands/Wind Ensemble/Brass Ensemble with outstanding musicians. Listening to them is inspirational and motivational for always wanting to be a better Player. I presently live in Kenosha, WI and unfortunately, would not be able to attend your concerts. Will they be posted on YouTube or anywhere I can watch, listen, and learn?
Outstanding presentation at IGEB 2018!!!
Great job Andy. This is a fantastic resource for wind band conductors. Congratulations.
Dear Andy,
Your site is wonderful. Hoping I’m still a member. If not, tell me what I need to do to renew my membership.
I’m writing now to correct the spelling of my name under Performances (of Sousa’s Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March). Here’s how it is listed:
California State University, Sacramento, Wind Ensemble (Robert Hespeth, conductor) – 9 April 2016
I prefer my name spelled Robert Halseth. Thanks.
BTW, my father, Alden Halseth, graduated from Crookston High School in 1929, couldn’t find work in northern Minnesota, so took a bus to Minneapolis where he worked on the brass fittings of the windows for the soon-to-be dedicated Foshay Tower building. Every time I play this piece, I dedicate it to him.
Bob