2025 Patriotic Concerts

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Join us for a patriotic musical journey with the Florida Wind Band as we present Voices of America & Red Feathered Soul

—a celebration of the rich history and diverse sounds that define our nation. Enjoy timeless classics like The Star-Spangled Banner, Armed Forces Medley, and Stars and Stripes Forever, along with soulful and historic works such as Afro-American Symphony by William Grant Still and Sammy Nestico’s Tribute to Stephen Foster.

We will also feature works by three outstanding contemporary Florida composers: Fantasy on a Theme by Edwin Taylor by Alain Rodriguez, Pinnacle Winds Fanfare by John Dupuis, and Red Feathered Soul by Joshua Hobbs.

What do young love, Easter, and kings setting off to war all have in common?
If you guessed Spring, you're right—and it's alive in the air!

Join us for an unforgettable evening as the Florida Wind Band brings its 17th season to a breathtaking close with a stunning performance titled "In the Spring". This masterwork production, held at the beautiful Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, will transport you into the heart of the season with music that captures the very essence of renewal, joy, and transformation. Get ready for a performance bursting with energy, passion, and spirit—this is one event you won’t want to miss! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

In The Spring Concert Replay

Saturday, February 8th | Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church

 Join the Florida Wind Band for an unforgettable experience in our new "Lights Out" Chamber Series at the beautiful Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. This intimate setting, with its soft, ambient lighting, creates the perfect atmosphere for you to explore live classical music in an entirely new way.

As you are guided through the aural journey of the Portuguese folk tale "Why the Owl Flies at Night" by our talented flute quartet and narrator, you will witness something truly unique. Throughout the performance, John Brennan, a renowned local artist and member of the Florida Wind Band, will be painting live, responding to the music and story unfolding before you. His dynamic, creative process will unfold in real-time, offering you the rare opportunity to watch a piece of art take shape as the music inspires each brushstroke.

Saturday, December 14th | Hyde Park United Methodist Church

  The Florida Wind Band returns to the stunning sanctuary at Hyde Park United Methodist Church for our annual Holiday Pops. You will have “The Most Wonderful Time” as we take you on an international Christmas journey through England, Germany, France, Puerto Rico, Russia, and the United States. Our guest narrator, Colleen Schmitt, will be your tour guide with holiday favorites, band classics, and new works celebrating the season. Please join us for this special performance that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! 

The Most Wonderful Time Concert Replay

Wednesday, December 11th | Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church

 Our talented musicians will draw you into an aural journey of the Christmas story. Your instrumental tour guides will be a woodwind quartet comprised of a flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Our Artistic Director and narrator, Matthew McCutchen, will travel along your side as you experience the miracle of Christmas and the special place that it holds in all of our hearts.  

Joy to the World Concert Replay

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024 | USF School of Music 

The Autumn Winds Youth Ensemble opens this masterworks series concert in partnership with the Florida Wind Band. During their eight-week rehearsal cycle, Autumn Winds students explore a broad range of exciting and challenging works. Their performance will feature music by some of the most influential composers of the wind band repertoire, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Steven Bryant, Kevin Day, Alex Shapiro, Michael Markowski, and Eric Osterling.

The Florida Wind Band begins after the intermission with Ante Grgin’s jazz-influenced Concertino for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, which features principal clarinet Tony Negron. Following is Carl Orff’s timeless masterpiece Carmina Burana, based on 24 medieval poems, which has become one of the most beloved works in the orchestral repertoire. The music is simple in harmony and range, characteristic of 13th-century music, with a driving rhythm to which the listener instinctively responds. Arranger John Krance worked directly with Carl Orff on this rendition and has incorporated the vocal melodies into a setting entirely instrumental in structure that you will find equally as passionate and exciting as the original orchestral score.  

Sunday, October 20th, 2024 | Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church

Our talented musicians and guest narrator will draw you into an aural journey of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Old Street Lamp." Your instrumental tour guides through the tale will be a flute, oboe, clarinet, and harp. The narrator will travel along your side as you experience the most respectable old lamp, which had seen many, many years of service, and was now ready to retire.

The Old Street Lamp Concert Replay

Sunday, June 30th, 2024 | Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church

  You are cordially invited to join the Florida Wind Band at our annual Patriotic Concert at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. The program consists entirely of pieces by American composers and includes patriotic favorites as well as works with which you may not be familiar, but will find deeply moving. We look forward to celebrating our American Spirit with you.  

The American Spirit Concert Replay

Saturday, June 29th, 2024 | Carrollwood Village Park

  Join us in our annual patriotic concert at Carrollwood Village Park with favorites perfect for the entire family. Feel free to bring a drinks, food, chairs, and umbrellas to setup a picnic to enjoy the show! Summer Breeze meets annually in the month of June to provide an opportunity for BAY Winds students and alumni to rehearse and perform in the summer. The band was founded in the summer of 2016 and regularly welcomes 60-80 musicians back to their joy of playing an instrument in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.