About Us
The Casco Bay Wind Symphony is a non-profit organization of about 70 musicians from age 19 to 93. It was formed in February of 1980 as the Peoples Community Concert Band, with their first performance being in early May of 1980 at the Peoples United Methodist Church. In 2015, the name was changed from the Casco Bay Concert Band to the Casco Bay Wind Symphony to better reflect the group's current repertoire.
The wind symphony members come from various musical backgrounds, professions, and regions of Casco Bay. More than a third of the members are music educators and professional musicians who continue to pursue their passion of music in their free time. The result is a group of music ambassadors, with a mission to demonstrate that the arts, and music in particular, are a lifelong pursuit and opportunity for enjoyment.
To that end, Casco Bay Wind Symphony is committed to providing high quality, low cost musical experiences for audiences of Greater Portland. We also strive to act as role models and leaders for the music programs in the K-12 public schools of Southern Maine. This goal is reflected through the active commitment of our seven executive board members, whose greatest priority with the Wind Symphony is to bring music to the communities we cherish.
The Casco Bay Wind Symphony has previously partnered with the Portland Concert Association in its biannual program to host a guest conductor. Through this union, we have been able to give workshops in the local schools and conduct joint concerts with the University of Southern Maine and Portland Youth Wind Ensemble.
Performance Clips
July 2, 2025 | Sanford Performing Arts Center
July 4, 2025 | Eastern Promenade Fireworks
Each March the wind symphony supports Music In Our Schools month by performing a joint concert with an area high school band. On four occasions the band has hosted R. B. Hall Day, an annual festival of community bands that is free for all. In 2001, and again in 2015, CBWS hosted the festival in Gorham where it was attended by more than 500 tourists and area residents. These are only a few examples of the ways the Casco Bay Wind Symphony contributes to the Greater Portland community.
The Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston recognizes top community bands in New England, and has frequently invited Casco Bay Wind Symphony to perform at the Boston Festival of Bands at Faneuil Hall.
CBWS has featured such musicians as Ronald Barron (former principal trombonist, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Dr. Peter Tanner (former percussion instructor, University of Massachusetts, former marimba soloist, the United States Marine Band "The President's Own"), Randy Judkins (Visual Comedian), Kenneth Radnofsky (New England Conservatory and Boston Symphony), and the Phil Rich Big Band. The band has premiered several works, including Robert Carabia's Gershwin, Jazz a la Mode, Mark Fredericks' Songs of Garmonbozia, Aeritin and Salvation, and Terry White's Concerto for Doubles. In 1990, to commemorate the band's 10th anniversary, it commissioned and premiered Maine Vigils by the noted American composer, Daniel Bukvich.
The Casco Bay Wind Symphony performs its regular season of three concerts at the McCormack Performing Arts Center at Gorham High School, and is engaged for several more concerts throughout Maine each year. Our already low admission price is further reduced for seniors, and students of all ages are admitted free to all concerts. The performance schedule, musical selection, low cost, and accessible facility are designed to appeal to a broad audience of families, students and retirees of Greater Portland.
