West Michigan Concert WINDS

The West Michigan Concert WINDS was founded in the fall of 1979 as a volunteer group of music educators and local residents dedicated to performing outstanding instrumental music in the community.

WINDs Celebrate 40th Anniversary!

History of the West Michigan Concert WINDS

Beginning its 47th season, the West Michigan Concert Winds provide the chance to both hear and perform concert band music with one of the oldest and largest adult community bands in the state. This award-winning band works together with community music organizations throughout the Midwest as well as area high school music programs in Muskegon, Ottawa and Newaygo counties.

The WINDS continue to sponsor competitive scholarships, awarding over 50 in the last 40 years to outstanding area school wind and percussion players at both the middle and high school levels. Many of these musicians have been featured soloists in the band's annual Winners & WINDS concert. In 2015 the WINDS partnered with the Community Foundation of Muskegon County to promote additional scholarships for local students. Additionally, in 2023 received a $50K ARPA Grant to send musicians from the City of Muskegon to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. 

The WINDS have twice been a featured ensemble at the annual Association of Concert Bands (ACB) Convention as well as hosting the 2011 ACB convention in Muskegon. In 2015, the WINDS blew into the Windy City to perform at Chicago's Symphony Hall. In 2016, the WINDS were invited to and performed in New York's famed Carnegie Hall.  This fine ensemble loves to travel as cultural arts ambassadors for West Michigan.  Traveling since 1996, the WINDS have performed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, most recently in the Summer of 2024.  They have hosted many bands from abroad, as well as in 2001 shared the Frauenthal stage with the Omuta Concert Band – Muskegon’s Sister City in Omuta, Japan. 

For its high standards of excellence in concert activities and for taking a significant and leading role in the cultural and musical environment of Muskegon County, in 2005 the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll Award, North America's most prestigious award for community concert bands to the West Michigan Concert WINDS.  

The WINDS have been sharing wind band music with the greater Muskegon Communities with 4-10 Concerts a year for the past 47 years!  This fine band is made up of 80-90 community members who share a common passion – performing their instruments in a concert band!  

The band’s rehearsal home has been Muskegon Community College since 1986 and have performed in most every theater with in a 30-to-50-mile radius. Professions range from college students, nurses, teachers, CPA’s, band directors, attorney’s, engineers, factory owners & workers, physicians, business owners, farmers, architects, ministers, librarians, and more. 

This is truly a “Community” organization and has been a WIN-WIN for every reason here in West Michigan!