First Coast Wind Symphony chair: Recognizing the role of arts groups in Jacksonville

Performing arts organizations serve an important role in building a rich cultural life through the arts that make our city a great place to live. One of these organizations, Jacksonville’s First Coast Wind Symphony, has recently been recognized for their outstanding work.

The First Coast Wind Symphony has received two national music awards: the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation 2023 Sudler Silver Scroll Award for the most outstanding community band in the U.S. and the 2023 American Prize in Performance, Celebrating American Excellence in the Arts. The ensemble is proud to represent Jacksonville as one of the finest community bands in the U.S.

Since 1987, the Sousa Foundation has annually recognized community concert bands in North America that consistently perform quality music at a high level and contribute significantly to their community's cultural environment. A representative of the foundation will attend our May 5 Family Concert in Terry Hall at Jacksonville University to present the Sudler Award to our organization and a certificate to each member.

The First Coast Wind Symphony is a nonprofit civic organization in its 34th season that provides a cultural service to Northeast Florida by offering free concerts of quality wind music. The 60-member group of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments provides performance opportunities for both professional and community musicians.

We also support the concert band tradition as an important part of America’s rich musical heritage, with purposeful outreach to families, students, veterans and seniors. Performances are always free and are funded through contributions from corporate and community sponsors, benefactors, partners and friends.

The ensemble’s educational mission supports schools and universities through partner concerts, educational programs and resources, guest composers and the annual concerto competition for Florida high school musicians.

For over a decade, the First Coast Wind Symphony has championed the works of noted contemporary American composers in concerts conducted by the composers and dedicated to their music. Many of the most recognized composers today have led the group in Jacksonville performances.

Our annual Concerto Competition is open to all Florida high school musicians. This year’s winner, Madelyn Urbine from Gainesville, receives the first prize of $1,500 and will be featured in the Richard Strauss “Horn Concerto No. 1” at our May 5 concert.

Noah Marsh, second-place winner on euphonium from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, is featured in our Mother’s Day Concert on May 12 at St. John’s Cathedral downtown. Additional guest performers are violinist Megan McClendon Rios of the Jacksonville Symphony and the cathedral’s Canon for Music and organist Timothy Tuller.

Although our home base is Jacksonville, we have proudly represented our city internationally in concert tours of Austria, Germany and France in 2017 and 2022. We will also perform on a tour of Prague and Budapest in 2025.

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We are thankful to all our volunteers and supporters, whose contributions have allowed us to excel.

There are several ways to give us a listen: Go to our website, follow us on Facebook or check out our YouTube channel. Bring your mom to our Mother’s Day concert to hear us live and join us for a reception following the concert.

For more information about our group and how you can become involved, visit FCWinds.org or contact us at info@fcwinds.org.

Ann Carey Holt, board chair, First Coast Wind Symphony, Jacksonville

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: First Coast Wind Symphony wins two prestigious national music awards