Brooklyn's own upstart wind symphony is the first NYC based group ever invited to WASBE!:
Who We Are
The Brooklyn Wind Symphony (BKWS) is a select all-volunteer 65 piece wind ensemble run for and by our members. We are a diverse, yet like-minded, group of advanced instrumentalists who play the most esteemed repertoire for symphonic wind ensembles and regularly share this craft with the public. Since its inception in 2008, BKWS has performed at Columbia University, Lincoln Center, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and most recently Carnegie Hall. BKWS has also been featured twice on Performance Today which is America's most popular classical music radio program with an audience reach of 1.4 million listeners each week.
"The Brooklyn Wind Symphony's ability to flourish outside of an institution is, in a word, extraordinary." --Viet Cuong, 2013 ASCAP Young Composer Award Winner
"...I thank all involved for showcasing the unmatched artistry of wind instruments and for sharing their love of this art form with Brooklyn and beyond." --Marty Markowitz, Former Brooklyn Borough President
The World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) strives to promote symphonic bands and ensembles as serious and distinctive mediums for musical expression and cultural heritage. Invitations to perform are extended after a rigorous blind audition process and ensembles from around the globe apply to perform for this bi-annual conference. BKWS was accepted upon its first submission and will be one of very few community ensembles in attendance. While our passion for music secured an invitation, your support is what will send our musicians to WASBE conference in San Jose, CA this July.
What We Need
BKWS is sponsored by the Metropolitan Music Community (MMC) which is a 501c3 non-profit run entirely by volunteer effort. Our operating budget and low overhead allows us program adventurously but special projects such as the WASBE conference require additional financial support. All donations to this project are tax deductable!
We need $9000 for the following:
- Most of our 65 members are paying for this trip out of pocket but we need to cover travel for our members who have financial hardship.
- Cross country oversized instrument transportation to and from San Jose.
- Printing and shipping the programs that let conference attendees know who we are and our mission
- Specialty percussion instrument transport while in San Jose.
The Impact
BKWS' WASBE performance is fantastic stage to showcase our organization's unique "by the community, for the community" mantra:
- Our performance will show conference attendees that high quality wind band music is achievable by volunteers and in an urban setting.
"The ceiling tiles hang so low that it’s easy to imagine Maestro Ball’s baton sticking
straight in, if a passionate enough passage came along. Written on the chalkboard
is “Maslanka/Markowski”, both very kindly sharing a big letter ‘M.’ They begin
rehearsing Symphony No. 4, and when the low reeds enter for the first time, the
room transforms into a cathedral..." --Michael Markowski, First Prize Winner of the Inaugural Frank Ticheli Composition Contest
- BKWS values serious contemporary works of both established and emerging composers. All but one of the compositions on our WASBE program were written by living composers and several works are from composers under the age of 30.
- The caliber of our musicianship is so exceptional, that BKWS ensemble members Jeffrey Hodes and Samantha K. Enriquez will be featured as soloists on two concertos including the West Coast premiere of David Maslanka's Clarinet Concerto.
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BKWS makes it a point to share musical gains with our community. Many of the composers who we are featuring on this program have already shared their talents by working with our sister ensemble the Grand Street Community Band and with our biggest fans, the awesome music students at Grand Street Campus.
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(Photo by Jasmine Britt)
- Our continued appearance at conferences like WASBE allow us additional interactions with internationally recognized artists, conductors, and composers. It is our hope that our appearance at the WASBE conference will entice even more of these individuals to share their wealth of knowledge with our local Brooklyn music community in the future.
Other Ways You Can Help
Aside from financial support, you can help us realize this goal further by doing the following!
- Share this Indiegogo link with your friends--let them know that you believe in community music too!
- Like the Brooklyn Wind Symphony on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter, then invite others to do so that we can broaden our audience reach for this project and continue to generate conversation about our love for the wind band!
- For our local supporters, join us at our WASBE send off concert at the Grand Street Campus on Saturday, June 13th at 2pm at 850 Grand Street in Brooklyn. Proceeds from the concert will also go towards getting the ensemble to WASBE.
- For our supporters in the San Jose area, join us at our WASBE performance on July 13th, at 8pm at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, CA.
