Welcome to the First Season of Professional Band in Minnesota!

Something new is coming . . .

Professional concert bands are rare, but our community is changing that!

This is your invitation to go behind the scenes for the debut season of Minnesota Winds, your professional concert band.

Share your email to be the first to know about concerts, artists, music, and how you can be part of this exciting new chapter in Minnesota’s band tradition.

Upcoming Concerts

  • Chamber Winds

    Sunday, October 26, 2025
    3:00 PM  4:30 PM
    Westminster Hall

    Minnesota Winds Chamber Winds
    Conducted by William Eddins

    Join us to open the first season at Westminster Hall in Minneapolis to experience band classics and discover new works up close and personal in this intimate setting featuring 15 superstar musicians to open the season!

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  • Chamber Winds

    Sunday, November 2, 2025
    2:00 PM 3:30 PM
    Historic Knowlton Auditorium

    Minnesota Winds Chamber Winds
    Conducted by William Eddins
    Co-presented by MacPhail Center for Music & Austin Public Schools

    Our chamber winds ensemble brings a concert to the beautiful southern Minnesota community of Austin. The program will be opened by the Austin High School Wind Ensemble.

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  • Minnesota Winds

    Saturday, May 30, 2026
    7:00 PM  8:30 PM
    Orchestra Hall

    Minnesota Winds
    Conducted by Cynthia Johnston Turner

    Our full ensemble takes the stage for the very first time to bring you an epic celebration of band in a season finale you won’t want to miss.

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Who is Minnesota Winds for? 

Just like school band, Minnesota Winds is for everyone.

Whether you’re a proud former band kid, a passionate band educator, a lifelong community band musician, a grateful band parent, or the next generation of band students—this is your band!

Minnesota is home to a vibrant band community with a strong tradition. Now, it’s also home to a world-class professional ensemble. At our first season concerts, you’ll revisit beloved band classics, discover bold new works, and experience a celebration of your art form at a whole new level.

Join our behind-the-scenes list above! We can’t wait to welcome you to the very first season.

What you can expect at a Minnesota Winds concert—reviews from our very first audience!

Thrilling!

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Refreshing

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Inspiring

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Amazing

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Exciting

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Fun!

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Glorious

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Electric

•

Joyful

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Thrilling! • Refreshing • Inspiring • Amazing • Exciting • Fun! • Glorious • Electric • Joyful •

About Minnesota Winds

  • Three years ago

    Two former band kids start dreaming: What if Minnesota had a professional concert band—one that honored our state’s incredible band tradition and created something new for the next generation?

  • Summer 2024

    Minnesota Winds makes its public debut at the Minnesota State Fair, in partnership with YourClassical MPR. Our chamber winds ensemble shares a program spanning 141 years of concert band music.

  • Fall 2024

    Fall 2024

    This chamber winds group of 11 musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera Orchestra as well as incredible freelance musicians, conducted by Manny Laureano, performs again at MacPhail Center for Music.

  • 24-25 School Year

    A trio of Minnesota Winds performers shares music and stories with over 500 band students in band rooms across the metro as part of the YourClassical MPR Class Notes program.

  • What's next?!

    Join us for a first season that’s ambitious, inspiring, and built for people who truly love band. From chamber winds to the first full band concert, join the email list above so you don’t miss a thing!