OUR STORY

We’re with the band

Playing our first notes in fifth grade band was the start of something special. We were young people who loved our music, the camaraderie, and the deep sense of belonging that came from being in band. Band was the class we looked forward to the most.

If you’re like us, you probably remember your last school band concert.

Maybe you were a senior in high school or college, feeling confident and full of joy as you played the closing piece. Maybe you hugged your director, laughed with your friends, and promised yourself that band would always be part of your life.

And if you're lucky, it has been. You might play in a community band, rehearsing every week with old and new friends. You might be teaching the next generation, passing on your love of music every single day. You might even be experiencing it through your child, seeing the friendships, the growth, and the pride all over again. We each have our own story—but we’re all here because band shaped us.

And yet, we’ve also all felt it: band deserves more.

More visibility. More celebration. More recognition on the main stage alongside the other great art forms we cherish. That’s why we created Minnesota Winds—a professional concert band rooted in the energy and excellence of school band, built to bring this music to life at the highest level.

Welcome!

—Meagan Bachmayer & Katherine Bergman, co-founders

MEET OUR LEADERSHIP

Music with a mission

Our mission is to connect the band community across Minnesota by engaging students, musicians, and audiences with innovative and inclusive approaches to education, performance, and new music.

BECOME A FOUNDER!

Our vision is to embrace the dynamic energy and inclusive culture of school band and bring it to the professional level in a way that celebrates the rich tradition of the concert band art form and builds an exciting future. Join us!

The impact of band

Minnesota Winds sponsored an essay contest inviting Minnesota high school band students to compose essays about what band means to them. It was a privilege to read the heartfelt words shared with us by students across the state.

Each student made the case for why band is important. Band is community and connection, acceptance and a safe place, personal growth and joy. Minnesota Winds exists to give these students and their art form representation on the main stage!

VIEW CONTEST WINNERS

  • Band is more than just a musical ensemble . . . it’s a sanctuary where I express my creativity and feel a sense of belonging within a supportive community.

    —AVA MILLER, Pine Island High School

  • Band can be for everyone . . . in band everyone gets a chance to shine.

    —EMILY ZURN, Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg High School

  • Band helped me learn that my failures are simply opportunities to get better.

    —AMANDA BOBGAN, Wayzata High School

  • During our band period I have learned to stop worrying about the things that are out of my control and to take control of what I can accomplish.

    —CHLOE ERICKSON, Buffalo High School

  • We can come together with our different backgrounds, personalities, emotions, talents, and ambitions to create art if we intently listen to each other and give each other space to grow.

    —INDIRA SIVARAJ, Elk River High School

  • Band is, without a doubt, the class I look forward to the most.

    —TYLER THESING, Pierz Healy High School