The Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is the premier performance ensemble at Port Charlotte High School. Membership is by audition only. This ensemble is composed of the finest student musicians in the band program and performs sophisticated literature. In addition to FBA sanctioned festivals, the Wind Ensemble performs a Fall concert, Winter Concert and participates in the annual “Colors of Sound” Spring performance. As a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Wind Ensemble has received an overall superior rating at the District level for 20 consecutive years. As a perennial participant in the State Music Festival, the Wind Ensemble has received an overall Superior rating at the State Festival for the last 13 consecutive years. The Wind Ensemble has been the recipient of the prestigious Otto Kraushaar Award presented by the FBA for straight Superior performances at all levels for 11 of the last 13 years. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform twice at the Stetson University Band Invitational and at the University of Florida Band Invitational. In January of 2001, the Wind Ensemble hosted the Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra from Saitama, Japan while this internationally acclaimed ensemble toured the United States.

A joint concert was attended by over 1500 community supporters and music enthusiasts. Wind Ensemble members have been selected numerous times as members of the Florida All-State Bands. They have also participated in the Tri-State Band Clinics at Florida State University, The University of Miami Honor Band, the University of South Florida Honor Band, and the Florida Southern and Boone Summer Music Camps. Graduates have continued their musical education and careers at such prestigious institutions as Florida State University, The University of Florida, The University of South Florida, The University of Central Florida, The University of Miami, Stetson University, The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, The Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, and Northwestern University.