American Wind Band

American Wind Band

Music - Not-for-Profit - Performing Arts - Special Events

Website: http://americanwindband.org/

 630-698-2802

 P.O. Box 605, Downers Grove, IL 60515

The American Wind Band (AWB) is now in its 35th concert season. Founded in 1989 as the Westchester Community Band by Vincent Furman, Gregory Hamot and John Chadwick, the organization moved to the Oakbrook Terrace Park District in 1999 and was renamed the American Wind Band.

After more than a decade in Oakbrook Terrace, the band moved once again. The band has found a home in Downers Grove and currently rehearses at the Downers Grove United Methodist Church.  Some of the original members still perform with the band.  Current membership numbers 75 talented amateur performers. The current music director is Julie Siarny, assisted by Mr. Furman. Greg Hamot returns as the band’s Master of Ceremonies.

The AWB audiences and band members enjoy a wide variety of musical styles. To satisfy this interest the band’s programming varies from classical transcriptions to Broadway and movie musical scores, marches and dance music. The directors also pursue additional continuing education for the musicians. To that end, the organization’s goals are:

  1. To vary programming with the season and concert themes.
  2. Regularly poll musicians as to their interests and for specific titles that they would wish to perform.
  3. Provide the band with regular sight reading and training for the purposes of continuing education.
  4. Continue to explore and commission new musical works and arrangements, if possible, by local Illinois artists.Expand performance locales into greater DuPage County to gain a more diversified audience.
  5. To support and encourage continuing music education by providing annual scholarships to worthy 8th grade and high school students through competition.
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