About Us
Who We Are
Tidewater Winds Concert Band is comprised of 65 talented woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians from across the Hampton Roads Virginia region representing various military branches, careers, academia, college bands and orchestras. Tidewater Winds is one of a handful of Concert Bands like it in the country, preserving the unique heritage of American Concert Bands in the Sousa tradition.
Our Mission
The Mission of Tidewater Winds is to provide quality concert band programming in the Hampton Roads region. Through community partnerships and local initiatives, Tidewater Winds works to provide musical performances, special projects, and educational programming at the highest level of excellence. It is our charge to musically serve the Hampton Roads region while offering equity and inclusion to all audiences. We aim to encourage education, socialization and unity through our musical programs.
Our Goals
- To serve the community with live quality free performances promoting the appreciation of musical artistry with a unique blend of concert band instrumentation.
- To enrich, inspire, and create uplifting joy and patriotism in the lives of our audiences with fresh interpretations of a variety of musical compositions.
- To bring quality entertainment to the community while maintaining a working community of local artists.
- To provide opportunities to educate and mold young musicians that provide and contribute to artistic growth.
Board, Staff, Musicians and Partners
Executive Director
Executive Director
Executive Director
Michael Kerry Williams
Music Director
Executive Director
Executive Director
Maestro John Brewington
Board President
Executive Director
Board President
Matthew Weinstein
Musicians
Flute
Amber Kidd
Darla Wilmot
Esther Yi*
Joshua Stone
Oboes
David Boone
Harvey Stokes
Rena Long
Bassoons
Angelina Nguyen*
Kecia Yeates
Laura Parker
Noah Sych*
Stephanie Sanders
Clarinets
Aiden Cotter*
Amanda Fleenor
Anthony Yan*
Cathy Ogram
Connie Kevorkian
Cosmos Fristachi
Ed Haywood
Eddie Knakal
Erin Root
Gabe Clemmons
Gabriel Henkin*
Jonathan Carr
Lee Cooper
Micah Lall-Trail*
Michelle Knipple
Noah Moyer *
Rachel Owen*
Shelby Worst*
Steve Clendenin
Bass Clarinets
Alan Brown
Saxophones
Buddy Creasy
Brandon Waltz
Matthew Pohl
Gabriel Doone
Elise Donley
Brian Webb
Fernanda Azevedo
Jessica Perks
Laura Cathcart
Robert Deis
Tommy Loyola
Frank Creasy
Horns
Teresa Dolsak
Eric High
Nancy Johnston
Rebecca Peppard
Piano
Gabriel Doon
Electric Bass
Mike Finn
Trumpets
Austin Simmons
Ben McCarthy
Bill Lemley
Brandon Sklute
Chad McGill
Denise White
Heath Losick
Nathan Coffman*
Renae Adrain
Robyn Card
Tim Singer *
Tom Graper
Trombones
Carl Lundgren
Chris Espy
Devonte Ezell*
Lee Dise
Austin Simmons
Renae Adrain
Nathan Coffman
Denise White
Ben McCarthy
Carroll Bailey, Jr
Robyn Card
Tom Graper
Heath Losick
Benjamin McCarthy
Chad McGill
Benjamin Siff
Nathanael High
Brandon Sklute
Jimmy Whittemore
Trombones
Jay Larkin
Kevin Rigotti
Bradley Schaefer
Tony Williams
Euphoniums
Alex Federico*
Brian Sklute
Ken Keller
Mike McKenna
Tubas
Adam Robles
Jim Cipirano
Phil Sloan
Steve Rossman
Tim High *
Harp
Mel Lauf
Percussion
Chris Livernois
Dan Knipple
Gary Weaver
Jonathan Wuidjuno
Kimberly Haywood
Lisa Farrell
Mike Lane
Ralph Copley
Timpani
Ross Aftel
Gary Weaver
Associations
Tidewater Winds is proud to be a Resident Ensemble at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Tidewater Winds is proud to be a Resident Ensemble at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Tidewater Winds is proud to be a Resident Ensemble at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Tidewater Winds is a proud partner with WindsDays.com & the Commission on Wind Energy
Tidewater Winds is proud to be a Resident Ensemble at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Tidewater Winds is proud to be a Resident Ensemble at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Projects and Signature Services
Music Education
Free Summer Concerts
Free Summer Concerts
Student Musician Internships
Student Arts Management Internships
The RIME Project
Master Classes
Band Clinics
In-School Performances
Free Summer Concerts
Free Summer Concerts
Free Summer Concerts
The Heart of our Work
Tidewater Winds strongly believes that accessibility to high-quality professional music is an important aspect to a fulfilling life. We fundraise hard to make our summer concerts free for families, students, and all who wish to experience the power of a full 55-piece concert band. We enhance the quality of life in Hampton Roads!
Your support is appreciated!
Our Ensembles
Free Summer Concerts
Our Ensembles
Concert Band
The Little Big Band
Jazz Band
Brass Quintet
Woodwind Quartet
Jazz Trio
Concert Support
Sound Engineer Mikes Mobile Mics, Michael Broadhurst
Sound Engineer Mikes Mobile Mics, Michael Broadhurst
Sound Engineer Mikes Mobile Mics, Michael Broadhurst
Graphic Designer E-Perry Designs, Elaine Perry
Sound Engineer Mikes Mobile Mics, Michael Broadhurst
Sound Engineer Mikes Mobile Mics, Michael Broadhurst
Partners in the Arts and Venues
Mamba Room
Ballet Virginia
Ballet Virginia
Ballet Virginia
Ballet Virginia
Ballet Virginia
Rainbow Puppets
Ballet Virginia
Virginia Beach Chorale
Virginia Beach Chorale
Virginia Beach Chorale
Virginia Beach Chorale
Symphonicity
Virginia Beach Chorale
Virginia Legends
Virginia Legends
Virginia Beach Chorale
Virginia Legends
Live on Atlantic
Norfolk Collegiate Theatre
Regent University
Regent University
Norfolk Collegiate Theatre
Regent University
Norfolk Collegiate Theatre
Norfolk Collegiate Theatre
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Children's Museum of Virginia
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Since 1985
A Brief History
1985
The late C. Sidney Berg founded The Tidewater Winds Professional Concert Band
in 1985 to provide an opportunity for residents of the Hampton Roads area to
enjoy free professional band concerts in the “Sousa Band” tradition. Funding
comes from various local and state grants, as well as contributions from
businesses and individuals. The inaugural concert of this band took place on
July 7, 1985 at Norfolk’s Town Point Park. Maestro Berg conducts the Winds until his passing in 2000.
1992
The Winds are Incorporated by the State Corporation Commission
on October 13, 1992, the band is a 501 c3 non-profit organization as recognized by
the Internal Revenue Service.
2000
Tidewater Winds begins incorporating an educational component to the Winds. High School and College students began to audition as music and performing interns, performing alongside the professional ensemble. Maestro Ascersion becomes the 2nd Conductor for the Winds in 2000 and continues until his passing in 2006.
2012
Tidewater Winds becomes a Resident Ensemble of the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach!
2019
New initiatives are introduced making the Winds more accessible and available to the public. Small ensembles are formed allowing quintets and quartets to perform as approved Tidewater Winds ensembles on smaller stages and with more repetoire variety. The education program grows into In-School Student Concerts, Middle and High School Band Clinics, Master Classes and the RIME project takes form as a student literacy music program to enhance literacy skills and music appreciation.
Today
From our humble beginnings to now, we continue to stick to our mission of providing quality free summer concerts to communities across Hampton Roads. We've added so many projects to our work but we will never lose the connection to our audiences, our joy of music and concert offerings to the public. Maestro Brewington leads the Winds in 2006 and contnues to develop crreative and powerful concerts while developing innovative connections to our audiences and community.
What's A Concert Band?
The concert band is an ensemble that goes by many names: wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind band, wind orchestra, symphonic band — or just plain "band." It's a collection of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments that is best known to the general public for patriotic marches, but it also is an ensemble that more and more composers are turning to for their next big work.
So what exactly is a concert band? Here are some answers for those new to the genre as we launch the Concert Band stream.
Q: What is the difference between an orchestra and a concert band?
A: The most obvious difference between the ensembles is the instruments that call the ensemble home. Violins, violas, cellos and basses make up the majority of an orchestra, while a concert band is made up of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Basically, the concert band does not contain stringed instruments, except the occasional string bass or harp. When you think of concert band music, you might think of marches, like John Philip Sousa's classic The Stars and Stripes Forever, or other patriotic tunes. This is the music that kickstarted the American band tradition.
Q: How did concert bands start?
A: Concert bands represent the coming together of two types of smaller ensembles: the brass bands that accompanied military regiments and the wind section of an orchestra.
On the lighter side, some composers such as Mozart and Haydn realized that the wind section of the orchestra had a unique sound and virtuosic ability. They occasionally wrote just for that section of the orchestra to give string players a break.
As military bands became more ceremonial than practical, they were able to expand to include woodwinds and play sit-down concerts for public audiences. This inspired a shift in repertoire. Now, along with marches, bands play arrangements from orchestral classics to modern pop.