Savannah River Winds
History
In the late 1990’s a sight reading ensemble was organized by Richard D. Brasco, conductor of the Evans High School Bands.
The ensemble met a few times during the school year and was made up of the local band directors of Columbia County along with top high school musicians. The purpose of the ensemble was to read old and new music that the directors brought to the group. This was to be an educational tool for the directors to choose music for their individual bands. In 2002, Columbia County School Administration sponsored a memorial celebration for the 9/11 attack. Mr. Brasco was contacted by them to organize a band for the celebration. It was then that Savannah River Winds evolved into an adult wind ensemble. Mr. Brasco contacted Mr. Lou Cefus, a retired band director, and asked him to be co-conductor for the newly formed adult wind ensemble. Mr. Brasco and Mr. Cefus met and made a list of hand-selected musicians in the Central Savannah River Area. The two conductors met with the prospective members in early Spring of 2002. Requirements for membership were discussed, and everyone who agreed became a member of Savannah River Winds. The first performance of Savannah River Winds was in May of 2002 at the 9/11 Memorial Celebration in Columbia County, Georgia. Membership included band directors, university professors, musicians from professional and vocational fields, and college students from local colleges and universities. Members were asked to commit to three rehearsals before any scheduled concert and to have all music prepared before the first of those three rehearsals. The nucleus of SRW was made up of these Charter Members. Additional members were added through audition and/or invitation. A set of bylaws was approved dealing with excused absences and other items. A board of directors was established consisting of all the section leaders and two at-large members. A non-profit status was granted to Savannah River Winds a few years later. Over the years, the ensemble settled into a regular season of four performances: PRISM, Veterans Concert, GMEA District X Honor Band Clinic, and a Spring concert. SRW performed at venues outside this schedule, which included guest performances on several occasions for the Georgia Music Educators State Music Convention and the South Carolina Music Educators In-Service Convention.
Savannah River Winds is active in supporting world-renowned composers. To date, they have commissioned the following pieces:
The ensemble met a few times during the school year and was made up of the local band directors of Columbia County along with top high school musicians. The purpose of the ensemble was to read old and new music that the directors brought to the group. This was to be an educational tool for the directors to choose music for their individual bands. In 2002, Columbia County School Administration sponsored a memorial celebration for the 9/11 attack. Mr. Brasco was contacted by them to organize a band for the celebration. It was then that Savannah River Winds evolved into an adult wind ensemble. Mr. Brasco contacted Mr. Lou Cefus, a retired band director, and asked him to be co-conductor for the newly formed adult wind ensemble. Mr. Brasco and Mr. Cefus met and made a list of hand-selected musicians in the Central Savannah River Area. The two conductors met with the prospective members in early Spring of 2002. Requirements for membership were discussed, and everyone who agreed became a member of Savannah River Winds. The first performance of Savannah River Winds was in May of 2002 at the 9/11 Memorial Celebration in Columbia County, Georgia. Membership included band directors, university professors, musicians from professional and vocational fields, and college students from local colleges and universities. Members were asked to commit to three rehearsals before any scheduled concert and to have all music prepared before the first of those three rehearsals. The nucleus of SRW was made up of these Charter Members. Additional members were added through audition and/or invitation. A set of bylaws was approved dealing with excused absences and other items. A board of directors was established consisting of all the section leaders and two at-large members. A non-profit status was granted to Savannah River Winds a few years later. Over the years, the ensemble settled into a regular season of four performances: PRISM, Veterans Concert, GMEA District X Honor Band Clinic, and a Spring concert. SRW performed at venues outside this schedule, which included guest performances on several occasions for the Georgia Music Educators State Music Convention and the South Carolina Music Educators In-Service Convention.
Savannah River Winds is active in supporting world-renowned composers. To date, they have commissioned the following pieces:
- RESURGENCE - Larry Clark
- ETERNAL VOICES - David Shaffer
- REFLECTIONS FROM THE WALL - David Shaffer
- O LAUD THE LORD - Paul Ayers (composed for wind ensemble and SATB Choir)
- HIGHLAND DAWN - Phillip Sparke
- INTO HEAVENS HANDS - David Shaffer (in memory of Terry Jenkins, charter member of SRW)
