Windy City Winds

Fall 2022 Concert - Our New Day
2022-11-18 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Link to LiveStream
Link to Concert Program
Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band”, is excited to announce the opening of its eighth season with our Fall Concert, “Our New Day”. The free concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 18 at St. Pauls United Church of Christ in Lincoln Park and will be LiveStreamed at www.spucc.org/streaming.

St. Pauls member and Musician First Class Chris Bettler, US Navy Band Great Lakes will be the featured soloist performing the Tuba Concerto by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Other music to be performed includes Colas Breugnon Overture, Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof, Adoration by Florence Price, and Of Our New Day Begun by Omar Thomas, based on the hymn “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”. Windy City Winds is conducted by St. Pauls members Mark Mosley and Sarah Good Mosley.

Directions and Parking for the Windy City Winds Concerts
We perform our formal concerts at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard, Chicago IL — on the corner of Orchard and Fullerton, across the street from the former site of Children’s Hospital in Lincoln Park, one block east of DePaul University.
From Lake Shore Drive, take Fullerton west past Clark Street to the first stop sign at Geneva. Turn left and take Geneva south one-half block to the next stop sign at Kemper Drive. Turn right and take Kemper Driver (a skinny one-way street) and park for free in the church parking lot on the right. Continue walking down Kemper and enter the sanctuary at the corner.
If the parking lot is full, continue down Kemper, turn right on Orchard and turn left at Fullerton. Take Fullerton west into the left turn lane at the stop light at Halsted and Lincoln. Turn a hard left onto Lincoln and go south to the Lincoln Commons parking lot. Turn right into the parking for additional.
Then walk across Lincoln and south to Orchard, turn left and walk a half block to the church sanctuary entrance.

Winter 2023 Concert - An Evening with Jim Stephenson
2023-03-03 19:30 - 21:30 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Windy City Winds is proud to welcome acclaimed Chicago-based composer James Stephenson to the podium for their concert An Evening with Jim Stephenson, March 3rd at St. Pauls United Church of Christ. Join us as he conducts Windy City Winds in four of his works including Exhale!, In The Moment Too, Stars and Stripes Fanfare and L’Esprit de la Trompette—featuring local trumpet soloist Thomas Madeja.
Stephenson will share insights into his composing process and the inspiration for each work. The concert will be of special interest to local musicians, music teachers and music students.
Come see the music the Boston Herald raved about: “Stephenson deserves to be heard again and again!”.
A reception and meet & greet opportunity with Jim Stephenson will immediately follow the concert.
Learn more about Jim at: Stephenson Music (composerjim.com)
Learn more about Thomas Madeja at: Thomas J Madeja Music (tjmadejamusic.com)
Full Program
Link to LiveStream
Link to Concert Program

Stars and Stripes Fanfare, James Stephenson
L’Esprit De La Trompette, James Stephenson
In The Moment Too, James Stephenson
Exhale!, James Stephenson
The Immovable Do, Percy Grainger
Toccata Marziale, Ralph Vaughan Williams

Spring 2023 Concert - Meet Me at the Fair
2023-05-12 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Windy City Winds invites audiences to enjoy a Night at the Fair as they close out their eighth formal concert season May 12th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Pauls United Church of Christ. The performance will be free to attend live and will be simultaneously livestreamed.
The evening will feature wind band music that celebrates warm evenings with pieces including the classic march Fairest of the Fair by John Philip Sousa, the animated Roman Carnival Overture by Hector Berlioz and the overture to the John Wayne film The Cowboys, written by John Williams.
The band will also continue its celebration of the 150th birthday of Ralph Vaughan Williams by performing his Folk Song Suite for Military Band.
Link to LiveStream
Link to Concert Program
Full Program

Fairest of the Fair, John Philip Sousa
The Cowboys, John Williams
Pageant, Vincent Persichetti
Roman Carnival Overture, Hector Berlioz
Halcyon Hearts, Katahj Copley
English Folk Song Suite, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Polka and Fugue, Jaromir Weignberger

2023 Fall Concert - Lord of the Rings
2023-11-18 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Concert Details
Link to Streaming
Concert Program
Join Windy City Winds as we kick off our 9th formal concert season and welcome renowned Dutch composer, arranger and conductor Johan De Meij to conduct his Symphony #1 “The Lord of the Rings” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 18. The concert will mark the 35th anniversary of his composing this enormously popular five-movement symphony, inspired by the trilogy of books by J.R.R. Tolkien – an epic piece of music, befitting an epic story. First performed in 1988, the symphony won the Sudler Composition Prize and has been recorded by top-tier ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra. De Meij and Windy City Winds will perform the new 2023 Revised Edition, reorchestrated by the composer. De Meij will also conduct his Windy City Overture and Downtown Divertimento (3rd mvt. – “Hitting the Highline”). The program will open with the Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare by Richard Strauss. The concert will be at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N Orchard in Chicago, and admission is free. Audience members can meet the composer at a reception immediately after the concert, celebrating Johan De Meij’s 70th birthday.

Winter 2024 Concert - A European Tour
2024-03-08 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
WINDY CITY WINDS CONCERT – FRIDAY MARCH 8 @ 7:30 pm
Livestream Link
Concert Program
Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band,” invites you to their Winter Concert, “A European Tour,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday March 8 at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard Ave. in Lincoln Park.
World-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinetist John Bruce Yeh will be their guest soloist, performing works by Weber and Debussy. The concert will feature music from Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Ireland and Italy. The concert program includes “Flores de Espana” (a Spanish paso doble march), “Aegean Festival Overture” (Andreas Makris), “Concertino for Clarinet” (Weber), “Premiere Rhapsodie” (Debussy), “Celtic Wedding” (Jeremy Bell) and “Italian Rhapsody” (Julie Giroux).
Admission is free, and the concert will be Livestreamed. In person audience members can participate in WCW’s annual raffle for valuable prizes.

The Great Outdoors
2024-05-17 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band”, invites you to our Spring Concert, “The Great Outdoors”, at 7:30 pm on Friday evening May 17.

Livestream Link
Concert Program

The music will include:

Aaron Copland’s “An Outdoor Overture”
Ron Nelson’s “Rocky Point Holiday”
Cait Nishimura’s “Boreal Pines”
Michael Daugherty’s “Alligator Alley”
The world premiere of a new work written for Windy City Winds by Douglas Brandt.

Admission is free, and the concert will be Livestreamed.

Make Music Chicago
2024-06-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Chicago Women’s Park, 1801 S. Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Windy City Winds Presents
Pop Stars Through the Eras: From Sousa to Taylor Swift
What do The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon have in common? They all have songs that will be performed by Windy City Winds at our Summer concert series!
Come and hear Windy City Winds outdoors this summer performing music of POP STARS – FROM SOUSA TO TAYLOR SWIFT, plus The Beatles, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Chicago! Each concert will feature guest stars from the St. Pauls United Church of Christ Chancel Choir!
Bring a blanket and a picnic and join us in one of Chicago’s beautiful parks this Summer as we perform the greatest pop hits from Sousa to Taylor Swift

Bucktown Garden Walk
2024-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Churchhill Field, 2007 W. Churchill, Chicago, IL, United States
Windy City Winds Presents
Pop Stars Through the Eras: From Sousa to Taylor Swift
What do The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon have in common? They all have songs that will be performed by Windy City Winds at our Summer concert series!
Come and hear Windy City Winds, outdoors this summer performing music of POP STARS – FROM SOUSA TO TAYLOR SWIFT, plus The Beatles, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Chicago! Each concert will feature guest stars from the St. Pauls United Church of Christ Chancel Choir!
Bring a blanket and a picnic and join us in one of Chicago’s beautiful parks this Summer as we perform the greatest pop hits from Sousa to Taylor Swift

Washington Square Park
2024-07-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Newberry Library/Washington Square Park, 901 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States

By Request - Fall 2024
2024-11-22 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
WINDY CITY WINDS FALL 2024 CONCERT – “BY REQUEST”
LIVESTREAM Link
Concert Program Link

Celebrating the start of our 10th season, Windy City Winds will perform our Fall Concert on Friday evening, November 22, 2024, at 7:30 pm at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
The theme of our concert is “By Request: Music Suggested by Band Members”. Each year we ask all band members for their music recommendations. Our concert will feature music by Edward Elgar (Enigma Variations), Frank Ticheli (Vesuvius), Ryan George (Firefly), Claude T. Smith (Emperata Overture), Julius Fucik (Florentiner March), and the Midwest premiere of a new work by Aaron Perrine (To Hope).
Admission is free and the concert will be Livestreamed at www.windycitywinds.org/concerts. Come and hear “Chicago’s Community Band!”

Looking Upward
2025-03-14 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
You are cordially invited to hear Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band”, in a free concert on Friday evening March 14th at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The concert will also be live-streamed at spucc.org/streaming.
LIVESTREAM Link
Concert Program Link
The concert program theme will be “Looking Upward: Music Inspired by Gazing at Stars and Planets”, featuring music by Gustav Holst (“Mars” and “Jupiter” from The Planets), John Philip Sousa (“By the Light of the Polar Star” from Sousa’s Looking Upward suite), John Williams (“Adventures on Earth” from the film E.T. -The Extraterrestrial), and two contemporary composers, Kevin Day (“Rocketship!”) and Julie Giroux (“Journey Through Orion”).
Dr. Kevin Geraldi, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be the guest conductor.
The concert will also include the band’s annual raffle where audience members can win fabulous prizes – concerts, ballgames, restaurants and more!
Windy City Winds is a 60-piece symphonic band celebrating its 10th season, conducted by its founders Mark Mosley and Sarah Good Mosley.

Looking Back
2025-05-16 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
LIVESTREAM Link
Concert Program Link
You are cordially invited to hear Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band”, in a free concert on Friday evening May 16th at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
The concert will also be live-streamed at spucc.org/streaming.
Admission is free, but street parking is always a challenge in Lincoln Park, and the church is making major renovations which limit street parking. We recommend parking at Lincoln Commons Garage, 2316 N. Lincoln Ave., operated by SP Parking. You can reserve a spot there using SpotHero. It’s a very short walk from there to the church – just walk across Lincoln Ave. and through the Lincoln Commons, past Philz Coffee and around the corner and the children’s playlot, then cross Orchard St. to enter the church sanctuary. Enjoy the concert!
Dr. Kimberly Fleming, Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be the guest conductor.
The concert will feature a new work composed by Ronald Hill, “The Man in the Arena” with soloist William Powers, leading bass-baritone of the Metropolitan Opera of New York.
The concert program theme will be “Looking Back: Favorite Music from our first 3 seasons”, featuring music by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins (“American Overture for Band”), Eric Whitacre (“October”), Leonard Bernstein (“Overture to Candide”), Robert Sheldon (“The Red Covered Bridge”), Howard Hanson (“Choral and Alleluia”), John Phillip Sousa (“Black Horse Troop”).
Windy City Winds is a 60-piece symphonic band celebrating its 10th season, conducted by its founders Mark Mosley and Sarah Good Mosley.
Admission is free and the concert will be Livestreamed. Come and hear “Chicago’s Community Band!”
Dr. Kimberly Fleming, Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be the guest conductor.
The concert will feature a new work composed by Ronald Hill, “The Man in the Arena” with soloist William Powers, leading bass-baritone of the Metropolitan Opera of New York.
The concert program theme will be “Looking Back: Favorite Music from our first 3 seasons”, featuring music by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins (“American Overture for Band”), Eric Whitacre (“October”), Leonard Bernstein (“Overture to Candide”), Robert Sheldon (“The Red Covered Bridge”), Howard Hanson (“Choral and Alleluia”), John Phillip Sousa (“Black Horse Troop”).
Windy City Winds is a 60-piece symphonic band celebrating its 10th season, conducted by its founders Mark Mosley and Sarah Good Mosley.

10th Anniversary Concert
2025-11-15 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Windy City Winds, “Chicago’s Community Band”, will present their 10th Anniversary Concert in the gymnasium at St. Pauls UCC on Saturday evening November 15th at 7:30 pm. The concert will be LiveStreamed at www.spucc.org/streaming.
LIVESTREAM CLICK HERE

PROGRAM BOOK CLICK HERE

St. Pauls members Mark and Sarah Mosley will conduct an exciting program of music by Beethoven, John Philip Sousa, British composer Haydn Wood, and American composers Alfred Reed and Fisher Tull.
To help celebrate this milestone, 20 former WCW members will join the band in the second half of the concert.
Admission is free! Looking ahead, please save Friday evening March 13 and Friday evening May 15 for WCW concerts later this season.

The Red, White and Blue
2026-03-13 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Pauls United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
March Concert – Friday 3/13/2026, 7:30 pm St. Pauls United Church of Christ

LIVESTREAM CLICK HERE

PROGRAM BOOK CLICK HERE
This concert will also feature our annual Audience Raffle for fabulous prizes!

In 2026, Windy City Winds celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 — the birth of our nation. We celebrate the principles of our founding fathers, the leadership of our greatest citizens, and the rich cultural diversity of America and our city. Throughout our history, the American flag has served as “the emblem of the land we love”, and it continues to be an “emblem of unity.” Our March 13 concert “The Red, White and Blue”, features music inspired by the American flag, including our national march The Stars and Stripes Forever. Our program will include:

The Stars and Stripes Fanfare, by Chicago area composer James Stephenson
Redwood, by composer Ryan George (inspired by the tranquility of California’s sequoia trees)
Blue Shades, by Frank Ticheli (incorporating blues and jazz motifs)
Flag of Stars, by Gordon Jacob (captivates with its robust and patriotic melodies)
One movement from Symphony #2 by Charles Ives (America’s first great composer — this music quotes “America the Beautiful” and “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean”)
