_0.png)
Blog Post: A Windy Morning on Classic 107 Celebrates Manitoba's Community Band Festival
If you tuned in to Classic 107 this morning during the 9 a.m. hour, you may have noticed a gust of brassy brilliance sweeping through your speakers. That’s because we devoted the playlist to music for wind ensemble, in honour of the Manitoba Band Association’s Community Band Festival, happening this weekend in Coronation Park.
Running Saturday and Sunday, June 7–8, this free, family-friendly festival celebrates 50 years of community music-making in Manitoba. From the Winnipeg Video Game Orchestra to the ever-joyful German Club Band, the festival showcases the passion, diversity, and camaraderie of musicians who play simply because they love to.
And what better way to salute that spirit than with a full hour of exhilarating music for winds?
🎶 The 9 a.m. Wind Ensemble Playlist
9:00 – Arizona Quickstep by John F. Stratton
Performed by the American Brass Quintet Brass Band
We kick things off with a fiery piece from Stratton, a 19th-century composer known as much for his cornet method books as his marches. This quickstep sets a bold, festive tone.
9:03 – Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Grainger
Performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, conducted by Gerard Schwarz
This iconic six-movement suite is based on English folk songs Grainger collected himself. Each movement paints a vivid character sketch—ranging from jaunty to mournful—and has become a staple of the wind band repertoire.
9:21 – Canzon Septimi Toni No. 2 by Giovanni Gabrieli
Performed by members of the Cleveland, Chicago and Philadelphia Orchestra brass sections
Gabrieli, a Renaissance composer from Venice, was among the first to write specifically for brass ensembles. His antiphonal canzoni were designed for St. Mark’s Basilica and sound just as majestic today.
9:25 – Overture for Wind Instruments in C by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by the Winds of the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado
Mendelssohn wrote this charming overture at just 15 years old. It showcases a Classical elegance paired with a youthful sparkle that hints at the genius he would become.
9:34 – Wind Octet No. 2 in E-flat by Josef Mysliveček
Performed by the Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble
A lesser-known contemporary of Mozart, Mysliveček’s octets are full of wit and grace. This one dances along with a Viennese flair.
9:45 – First Suite in E-flat for Military Band by Gustav Holst
Performed by the Cleveland Symphonic Winds, led by Frederick Fennell
Written in 1909, Holst’s suite helped establish the wind band as a serious ensemble. With its noble Chaconne, lively Intermezzo and rousing March, it remains a cornerstone of the repertoire.
9:55 – Symphony No. 3 for Wind Ensemble by Vittorio Giannini
Performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony, conducted by Frederick Fennell
Giannini’s Symphony No. 3 (1958) blends lush Romanticism with bold brass and woodwind textures. It’s a thrilling closer—both dramatic and dignified.
🎺 Why Wind Music? Why Now?
This special broadcast is our way of honouring the 2025 Community Band Festival, which this year is part of the Manitoba Band Association’s golden jubilee. For 50 years, the MBA has nurtured Manitoba’s band community through Family of Festivals, education, and support for musicians at every stage—from beginners to seasoned pros.
Executive Director Brent Johnson says the goal is simple: to keep people playing. “Lifelong music making is of such value,” he told Classic 107. “We live in a time where we face all kinds of stressors… so places where community happens—and things like music, where your mental health, which affects your physical well-being, are just so, so vital.”
That philosophy is on full display this weekend. Whether you’re hearing Broadway hits from the Westwood Community Band, video game scores, or military marches from HMCS Chippewa and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, you’re hearing music made from the heart.
As conductor Ginny Helmer puts it, “It's just amazing to be in front of people who are amateurs in the best sense of the word. They love to be there. It's part of who they are.”
🎉 Join the Festival
📍 Where: Coronation Park, St. Boniface
📅 When: Saturday & Sunday, June 7–8
🕐 Time: Performances start at 1 p.m. each day
💰 Admission: Free! Donations welcome
🔗 More info: mbband.org
Come out and enjoy a weekend of music, community, and good vibes. And if you missed our 9 a.m. wind hour today—don’t worry. We’ll have more band-themed goodies throughout the weekend. Stay tuned, and stay brassy!