MISSION: “Celebrating and sharing the great American Wind Band Tradition by presenting diverse and engaging programs and enriching music education by mentoring and inspiring students.”
Since its founding in 1991 by conductor George Etheridge, the Capital Wind Symphony has stood as a champion of the great American wind band tradition. Established as Capital Winds, the ensemble was envisioned as a place where accomplished volunteer musicians in the Washington, D.C. region could perform wind band repertoire at the highest level. From its earliest days, the ensemble prioritized artistic excellence, accessibility, and community engagement—core values that remain central to its mission.
Just three years after its founding, the ensemble earned national recognition with an invitation to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, one of the most prestigious stages in the wind band world. This landmark moment affirmed the Capital Wind Symphony’s commitment to presenting high-caliber, artistically engaging performances rooted in the rich legacy of American band music.
Throughout its history, the Capital Wind Symphony has remained guided by its mission: “Celebrating and sharing the great American Wind Band Tradition by presenting diverse and engaging programs and enriching music education by mentoring and inspiring students.” That mission informs everything the ensemble does—from the repertoire it selects to the partnerships it builds with schools, community organizations, and fellow artists.
In 2020, the Capital Wind Symphony was selected as a Community Partner of Capital One Hall, a program that provides financial and logistical support to arts organizations in Fairfax County. This partnership has allowed the ensemble to expand its performance offerings, remain accessible to the public, and deepen its impact within the local arts ecosystem.
A new era of artistic leadership began in 2024 with the appointment of Dr. William L. Lake, Jr. as the ensemble’s second conductor. A nationally recognized music educator and conductor, Dr. Lake has brought fresh vision and momentum to the organization, further aligning its work with the mission of artistic diversity and student mentorship. Under his direction, the ensemble has broadened its programming and embraced bold new collaborations.
One of the most impactful collaborations was Intergalactic Soundscapes, a space-themed concert that featured a NASA Space Engineer as a special guest presenter at Capital One Hall 2024. Featuring music by John Williams and other composers inspired by the cosmos, the program attracted the ensemble’s largest-grossing audience to date and offered an immersive, multimedia experience that celebrated the imagination and ambition of American wind music.
Also in 2024, the Capital Wind Symphony launched its first popular music crossover project, Mr. Tambourine Man: A Symphonic Electric Tribute to Bob Dylan, in collaboration with The Bob Band and lyric coloratura soprano Alissa Roca. The program featured John Corigliano’s Grammy Award-winning song cycle, Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan, showcasing how wind ensemble and chamber winds can reframe American folk music through a classical lens. By combining genres and creative voices, the performance embodied the ensemble’s commitment to diverse and engaging programming that reflects the evolving future of the wind band.
In May 2025, the Capital Wind Symphony was honored to serve as the premiere ensemble for the National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, presented by Music Celebrations International. Performing for an audience of over 2,000, the ensemble brought stirring and dignified wind band music to one of the country’s most hallowed stages, demonstrating the continuing power of this uniquely American art form.
At the heart of the Capital Wind Symphony’s mission is a deep investment in music education. Through its flagship initiative, the Capital Wind Workshops: Practice with the Pros, the ensemble regularly invites middle and high school students to rehearse and perform side-by-side with professional-caliber musicians. These workshops, along with school visits, sectional coachings, and clinician partnerships, provide meaningful mentorship opportunities that support student musicians and their directors.
The Capital Wind Symphony also champions equity in programming, actively performing and promoting music by historically underrepresented composers, including BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, and others from minoritized backgrounds. These efforts ensure that the wind band tradition remains vibrant, relevant, and inclusive.
As the Capital Wind Symphony enters its 35th Anniversary Season, it continues to fulfill its mission with renewed purpose—honoring the past, shaping the present, and inspiring the future of wind band music. Through compelling performances, bold collaborations, and transformative educational outreach, the ensemble remains a cultural cornerstone in the Washington, D.C. region and a model for the national wind band community.
Capital Wind Symphony is funded in part by ArtsFairfax
