About the San Jose Wind Symphony

The San Jose Wind Symphony (SJWS) is the West Coast's premier wind symphony, providing high-quality musical performances for audiences of all ages. SJWS performs five to seven concerts a year at venues in the Bay Area. Each concert is a mixture of contemporary, classical and popular works for wind ensemble or symphonic band.

SJWS believes that music and the arts improve the quality of life for all citizens. SJWS has become a family-oriented, classical music mainstay for San Jose and the Silicon Valley. We strive not only to continue the grand tradition of concert bands and the legacies of Sousa and Fillmore, but to enhance and promote the wind ensemble experience in the 21st century. We do this by commissioning new works and by providing an opportunity for non-professional musicians to continue to perform at the highest levels.

SJWS is an all-volunteer ensemble composed of approximately 55 woodwind, brass and percussion performers. The group rehearses once a week for two and a half hours; a typical concert requires six weeks of rehearsals. Although most SJWS members have day jobs in Silicon Valley, the group still achieves a consistently high level of musicianship.

In 1998, SJWS received the prestigious Sudler Silver Scroll, the highest national honor that can be achieved by a community band. The Sudler Silver Scroll is awarded annually by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to recognize those bands which demonstrate a high standard of excellence over a period of several years and have played a significant role in the cultural and musical environment of their local communities.

In its 65+ years, SJWS has earned a worldwide reputation for entertaining programs and superb musicianship. The group has been invited to perform at conferences and festivals throughout the western United States, including San Ramon, Long Beach, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Rosa, Portland and Seattle. In recent years, SJWS has represented San Jose to European audiences with performances in Ireland, including Dublin, San Jose's sister city, Switzerland and Austria.

In December 2009, SJWS performed at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Out of 177 applicants from around the world, SJWS was one of only 31 groups selected to perform at the Clinic. SJWS was the only group from California to be selected that year - and only the second Californian adult band accepted in the 63-year history of the Midwest Clinic.

In June 2014, members of SJWS traveled to France to join with the D-Day 70 Memorial Wind Band to perform memorial concerts in Paris, and on Omaha Beach in Normandy, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.

In July 2015, SJWS appeared at WASBE, the biennial conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, which was held in San Jose that year. The Wind Symphony's performance earned universal praise — WASBE president, William V. Johnson, called it “nothing short of stunning, as evidenced by the tremendous ovation you received... Personally, I was very moved, not only by the magnificent musical product your group created, but also the great love and integrity you demonstrated in its preparation.”

SJWS was founded in September 1958 by Darrell Johnston. Maestro Johnson graduated from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under the legendary Frederick Fennell, the father of the modern wind ensemble. Inspired by his friend and mentor, Maestro Johnston had the vision, creativity, perseverance and talent to form a musical organization that would become a cornerstone of the Bay Area performing arts community for over half a century.

In 2001, Maestro Johnston announced his decision to step down from active leadership of the band. In 2002, after a nationwide search, Dr. Edward C. Harris was appointed to the role of Music and Artistic Director. As only the second conductor in the history of SJWS, Dr. Harris continued the tradition of excellence in performance and presentation.

Fast-forward twenty years later, and it was Maestro Harris's turn to announce his retirement, which he did in the spring of 2022. SJWS held a season-long search for a suitable successor in 2022-2023 and in June 2023 announced that Dr. David Vickerman would be taking over the band in the fall of 2023. But Dr. Harris isn't quite finished with the ensemble: he's returning to conduct a farewell concert on February 25, 2024.