Other News

One of Japan's preeminent conductors, Yoshihiro Kimura has earned worldwide respect for both his remarkable interpretive skills and his outstanding transcriptions for wind orchestra. His many recording credits are regarded as definitive reference sources, and he has a long association with his country's professional band scene. A product of the Osaka College of Music, Kimura studied clarinet with Shinjiro Nakao, Yukio Ohashi and Rudolf Jettel, and trained for conducting with Takashi Asahina. After joining the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band in 1962, he served as Concert Master, Associate Conductor, and in 1985, permanent Conductor of one of the few professional wind ensembles [...]

The Valley Winds announces an International Composition Competition seeking new works for wind ensemble. This competition is open to composers of all ages. There is no entrance fee. Deadline is May 31, 2021. Please visit www.thevalleywinds.com/composition-competition for complete instructions. Direct all inquiries to Tony Brackett at ambclarinet@gmail.com

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our former WASBE Board Member Peter Bucher from Switzerland. Peter has been on the WASBE Board of Directors from 2001-2007 and from 2011-2017. His dedication and passion for our organization was unique. Peter was very much involved in the planning and logistical organisation of many WASBE Conferences and was always very engaged in the future of wind music and our organisation.

At a time when in many countries of the world musical training activities are strongly reduced, mfClassrooms allows to overcome geographical barriers and the physical distance between teacher and student, offering the possibility to continue the lessons, with an audio quality comparable to that of a CD (stereo audio, frequency response from 0 to 20,000 Hz, and sampling at 48 KHz). The video recording function of the lessons allows the student to listen to the lesson again, to treasure all the details of the teaching received. The mfClassrooms platform has been developed to allow Conservatories, Academies and Music Schools to conduct individual music [...]

While the stories of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, led by Robert Austin Boudreau, have been told in cinema pieces, newspapers, and other written collections before, (see also Point Counterpoint II) The Messengers and the Music devotes every inch of its pages to the largest commissioning program for Wind Orchestra. Written together by Robert and Kathleen Boudreau, the text outlines some historical context to the organization as a whole, all the while taking the reader through the culture and continents of each composer. If you are looking for exciting works, or for titles and scores previously unheard in the repertoire of [...]

Warsaw Wind Music Association and PWM Edition invite to take part in the International Composition Contest for Wind Orchestra - Warsaw Wind Ensemble Composition Contest 2020. This is the first edition of the international competition for composers, the subject of which is to write a premiere composition for a concert wind orchestra. The Contest is open to composers of all nationalities. Competition works will be evaluated in two categories: international and Polish. The final gala of the Contest will be held on 28 November 2020 in Warsaw. The winners will receive attractive prizes, including publication of the work in the The Wind [...]

Wickes served as director of bands at the University of Florida from 1973 to 1980, then came to LSU. Wickes' tenure at LSU entailed conducting the LSU Wind Ensemble and teaching courses in graduate wind conducting and wind literature. He was honored by LSU in 1999 with an endowed alumni professorship and again in 2000 with a special recognition from the chancellor. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2009 Wickes' former University of Florida student, Linda Moorhouse, was associate director of bands at LSU before leaving for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, [...]