Welcome to auditions

Are you a professional level woodwind, brass, or percussion musician looking for an opportunity to perform with a trailblazing ensemble? We are excited to welcome you to the auditions process for our state's first professional concert band. Here you can get all the details and submit your audition to join our call list for upcoming performances.

About the ensemble

Join Minnesota Winds in bringing world-class concert band music to the main stage. Our values include creating community, engaging students, advocating for school band programs, and building an exciting, inclusive future for the concert band art form. Our repertoire includes a diverse selection of historical and contemporary works for concert band. If this lights you up, we would love to hear you play!

Audition process

Applicants must fill out an application form and submit a resume and a video performance of selected excerpts from the concert band repertoire. Application forms, submission guidelines, and audition packets for your instrument can be downloaded using the links below. 

Important Dates:

  • Submission deadline: June 1, 2025

  • Results notification by July 15, 2025

Performance details & compensation

Minnesota Winds will present three to four concerts each season—a mix of chamber winds (10-20 players) and full concert band (30-40 players) performances. Concerts will be held in the Twin Cities metro area and in greater Minnesota.

Depending on the repertoire, two or three rehearsals will be scheduled in the week leading up to each concert. Parts will be rotated. All musicians will be compensated $150 per service (rehearsals and performances).

Minnesota Winds follows a guest conductor model, giving musicians the opportunity to work with a variety of conductors throughout the season.

This is an organization deeply rooted in the school band experience, and playing with Minnesota Winds presents a wonderful opportunity to serve band students across our state. As we grow our education programming, call-list musicians may be invited to additional education-focused paid opportunities.

Please note that being on the call list does not guarantee that you will be called for a concert. Instrumentation and personnel needs vary with repertoire and performer availability for each concert. 

Questions? Please contact us at auditions@minnesotawinds.org with any questions about the audition process.

Audition packets & submission