Metropolitan Winds Competitors

“The Dallas Wind Symphony began as a grand experiment and has become the international standard bearer for professional wind and percussion ensembles.” - Robert Floyd, Executive Director, Texas Music Educators Association The Dallas Wind Symphony is America’s foremost civilian wind band, comprised of more than 50 professional musicians of exceptional individual and collaborative talent, celebrating a proud 28-year history of outstanding performances, award-winning recordings, and meaningful education. Our current budget is approximately $900,000 per year, and we employ 50 part-time musicians, guest conductors, and four full-time staff members, plus one full-time office cat. With these limited resources, we’ve built a band that challenges or bests the artistry of the leading professional wind ensembles in the world. We bring joy to people through band music. Our extraordinary musicians and enthusiastic audiences celebrate the performance, promotion and preservation of the music and traditions of the American wind band.

Playing our first notes in fifth grade band was the start of something special. Band was more than a club or group, it was a culture and a community. Yet our music only existed in the classroom, and the culture we created and basked in ended in school. But what if we could change that? Welcome to a new possibility. A path where band students and their teachers have access to professional musicians, composers, and conductors. A path where band music is celebrated at the highest levels of musical artistry. A path where audiences experience the rich history of band music and visionary new works of music are created. A path where the vast community of band musicians, past and present, can come together again to celebrate the nostalgia and build a bright future for their art form. Welcome to the Minnesota Winds!