The Saint Louis Wind Symphony (SLWS) was
founded in 1998 as an avenue for music educators to continue to perform.
Founded by Dan Presgrave and a core group of musicians, the Saint Louis Wind
Symphony was established as a non-profit, all volunteer concert band dedicated
to the highest-quality performance of the best wind literature.
(1998-1999)
Four concerts were performed at four Saint Louis metropolitan area high
schools. The SLWS chamber winds was founded in the spring to perform smaller
scale wind repertoire.
(1999-2000)
The Saint Louis Wind Symphony enticed more players to join and
enlarged its audience. The group established a subscription concert series and
moved their performance home to the Saint Louis Art Museum and at the as part
of museum’s educational programming. Christmas pops concerts were held at both
the Florissant Civic Center and Hoover Boys & Girls Club. The SLWS began an
ongoing relationship with Kjos Music Publishing Company to make reference
recordings for their catalog of new music.
(2000-2001)
The audience and the ensemble’s reputation continued to grow. SLWS
sponsored the first Middle School Festival which allowed students to perform
solos and ensembles in a workshop setting. This was the first year the group
traveled, playing at the Missouri Music Educators Association at the Lake of
the Ozarks. This third season welcomed the addition of Associate Conductor
Ken Thompson.
(2001-2002)
The Saint Louis Wind Symphony was making a name for itself. The subscription
series continued to be a success. Summer pops concerts were added. The Wind
Symphony was honored to be invited to play at the Missouri Band Masters
Association.
(2002-2003)
The Saint Louis Wind Symphony continued to reach out to the community with a
holiday concert in Godfrey, Illinois, and a standing room only holiday concert
at St. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in St. Louis. The summer was filled
with concerts in the park and an appearance at the Saint Louis Art Fair.
(2003-2004)
SLWS continued its busy concert schedule in their new venue at Missouri
Baptist University. They had the honor of performing for the American School
Band Directors Association.
(2004-2005)
Conductor Ken Thompson left to pursue a Masters in conducting, and Tom Poshak,
newly retired as director of the Kirkwood High School Band, joined the SLWS as
Associate Conductor. That year the Wind Symphony joined the Kirkwood
Children’s Chorale in their Christmas concert.
(2005-2006)
The Saint Louis Wind Symphony became part of the Kirkwood community with the
encouragement and support of Mayor Mike Swoboda. They performed again with
Kirkwood Children’s Chorale. The Wind Symphony was honored to be invited a
second time to perform at the Missouri Band Masters Association. Always
striving to connect with area music students, a program was begun for local
band directors who could nominate their top players to join the wind ensemble
in rehearsal.
(2006-2007)
The first fundraiser dinner was held with dancing, music and merriment all
around. The SLWS performed in Kirkwood, at Culver-Stockton College in Canton,
MO (via the Missouri Arts Council Touring Program), and for the Feed My People
25th Anniversary Celebration.
The 10th season is drawing to a close. It brings a time of reflection: Who
has the SLWS reached in its love for and expression of music? How far have
they come? What goals have they yet to reach? They have truly become the
premier Wind Ensemble in the Saint Louis metropolitan area, with a reputation
for quality performance spreading across the country, and plans to continue to
share the joy of music for years to come.
