The Fresno State Wind Orchestra is an organization that enrolls the most proficient wind and percussion students on campus. The ensemble is conducted by Director of Bands, Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, and auditions are held the first week of each semester. Wind Orchestra is offered as a one-unit course in both the fall and spring semesters. The ensemble has a history of excellence and maintains an impressive performance resume to date.

 

History

The CSU Fresno Wind Orchestra made their Carnegie Hall debut in 1996. They were invited to perform for the American Bandmasters' Association conference in Las Vegas in March of 2001. The Wind Orchestra was featured on a CD of the wind works of the English composer Philip Wilby on Doyen Records, and the group performed in Beijing and Shanghai in June of 2000. In April 2004, the group traveled to New Orleans, and in the summer of 2006 they took a trip to England. In February 2009, the Wind Orchestra was a featured ensemble at the California Band Directors Association All-State Conference. In April of 2010 they were the premier performing ensemble at the Percy Grainger International Wind Festival in Chicago. In the summer of 2013, the Wind Orchestra performed at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The ensemble is attended the 26th Australian International Music Festival this summer, where they performed in the Sydney Opera House.

 

 

The University Wind Ensemble, as it was originally called, has premiered original compositions by world renowned composers such as Kenneth Froelich, Philip Wilby and James Sochinski. This performing ensemble has been featured on many recordings available throughout the US and Europe. On June 2, 1996, the Wind Ensemble made its premiere at Carnegie Hall, sharing the state with the University of Rochester University Choir and the McCallum High School Band, with Director of Bands Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland conducting. The program included three works written for the Wind Ensemble by Phillip Wilby and James Sochinski. In June of 2000, the Wind Orchestra traveled to the People’s Republic of China for a landmark two week tour and in June of 2006 the Wind Ensemble performed in concerts throughout England for Dr. Sutherland’s retirement tour.

 

Dr. Gary P. Gilroy became Director of Bands in 2006 after thirteen years as Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Bulldog Marching Band. He changed the name of the band from Wind Ensemble to Wind Orchestra at that time. Chicago’s Orchestra Hall was the venue for the First Annual Percy Grainger Festival, where the Fresno State Wind Orchestra was featured in April of 2010. In March of 2012 the Wind Orchestra was honored to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Western and Northwestern Division Conference in Reno, Nevada. In June of 2013, the Wind Orchestra performed at the Los Angeles International Music Festival held in the Disney Concert Hall, and in the summer of 2015, members of the Wind Orchestra performed as part of the Yosemite Winds ensemble at the 26th Australian International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia.

 

You can find more related information at the official Fresno State Wind Orchestra website here.

You can also follow the Wind Orchestra on facebook here.