Wind Ensembles

UWEC Bands Handbook (PDF)

Wind Symphony
Symphony Band
University Band
Blugold Marching Band
Blugold Athletic Band

The UW-Eau Claire band program, comprising the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, University Band, Blugold Marching Band, and Blugold Athletic Band offers a rewarding and enriching musical experience for more than 350 UW-Eau Claire students each year. Built on a long tradition of excellence, the UWEC band program offers a variety of concert and athletic bands designed to meet the artistic and educational needs of UW-Eau Claire students, regardless of major area of study.

The Wind Symphony and Symphony Band are the top concert bands at UW-Eau Claire, and their active performance schedules include at least two concerts each semester and an annual concert tour. Each band performs the finest new and traditional concert band works, and both bands are committed to the highest standards of musical excellence.

The University Band rehearses once a week and performs one concert each semester.  It offers students an opportunity to participate in a concert band with no audition that is rewarding but with less time commitment.

The Blugold Marching Band and Blugold Athletic Band lend color and spirit to Blugold athletic events throughout the year and provide an excellent opportunity for students to be involved in the larger university community.

We are all musicians, and regardless of your level of participation, you are a valued part of the proud band tradition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Wind Symphony

Brian Diller, Interim Conductor

The Wind Symphony is dedicated to the performance of the finest traditional and contemporary wind band literature.  This ensemble, which is open to all university students by audition, provides members the opportunity to broaden performance and teaching skills by experiencing musical literature at the highest level.  The Wind Symphony performs at least two concerts each semester and participates on an annual spring concert tour. The ensemble rehearses Monday through Friday from 2:00-2:50 p.m. in the Haas Fine Arts Center.

The Wind Symphony has performed at many regional and national conferences including: MENC, College Band Directors National Association, Wisconsin State Music Conference, Illinois Music Educators Association Convention, and the National Band Association - Wisconsin Chapter Convention. The Wind Symphony also frequently records for music publishers including Daehn Publications and JPM Music.

Symphony Band                                                                                         

The Symphony Band, an ensemble comprised of music majors and talented non-music majors, is committed to the study and performance of the finest standard and contemporary works for band. This ensemble is open to university students by audition and performs four concerts a year with a concert tour each spring.  The Symphony Band rehearses Monday through Thursday from 3:00-3:50 p.m. in the Haas Fine Arts Center.

University Band

The University Band is open to all UW-Eau Claire students regardless of major. The band is comprised of talented musicians from many academic disciplines as well as music majors, some of whom choose to perform on a secondary instrument. No auditions are required for membership in the University Band.  The band rehearses on Mondays in the fall from 4:00-5:50 p.m. and on Tuesdays in the spring from 4:00-5:50 p.m. in the Haas Fine Arts Center.

Blugold Marching Band

The Blugold Marching Band (BMB) is one of the largest and most active marching bands in the upper Midwest.  The BMB performs every year at Blugold home football games, several contest exhibitions, and other selected events.  Recent performances have included three NFL games, three weekend trips to Chicago, and three European performance tours. 

Admission to the BMB is competitive and is limited to 300 members.  Applications are accepted online between February 15 and July 1.   Some sections fill very quickly so early application is recommended.  The BMB does not accept alternates, therefore every person accepted will have a spot in the show.  Membership is open to qualified students of any major.   

Colorguard, Percussionists, and Dancers are applying for provisional acceptance, pending a successful audition.  Auditions will be held during a mini-camp on Saturday May 12, 2012.

For complete information, please see the Blugold Marching Band Web Site:  http://www.blugoldmarchingband.com

Blugold Athletic Band

The Blugold Athletic Band is a student run, faculty advised Student Organization. With a membership of over 60 musicians, the BAB performs at various UWEC sporting events including Men's and Women's Basketball and Men's Hockey. The time commitment required for the BAB is 3-5 rehearsals in November and 10-12 games from November-March, and membership is open to all UWEC students at any playing level. In May of 2010 The Blugold Athletic Band performed for 1,000 5th graders participating in the Blugold Beginnings, a new initiative to inspire students, especially underrepresented, low income or first generation students, to pursue a college education.

Blugold Athletic Band Web Site:  http://www.uwec.edu/aso/bab.html
Contact: Nicholas Hansberry, Director - hansbenl@uwec.edu