School of Music

Millikin University Bands

Gary R. Shaw , Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Sharon Huff, University Concert Band

Symphonic Wind Ensemble & University Concert Band

Millikin University offers two large ensembles for wind, brass and percussion students, the University Concert Band and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Both bands perform at Millikin University’s Kirkland Fine Arts Center.  Students from all majors are invited to participate in the concert band program at Millikin University. Talent awards for prospective majors and non-majors are awarded each year to incoming freshmen students. These awards are based on each student’s performing ability and are renewable each year that the student participates in a major ensemble.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Millikin's premeire large instrumental ensemble, tours annually, often performing in public schools throughout the Midwest. In 1985, 1992, and again in January 2000 the Symphonic Wind Ensemble was featured at the Illinois Music Educators Association Conference. In 1994 the ensemble performed in Indianapolis at the Music Educators Association North Central Conference.

In March 1998, 2001 and 2005, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble traveled to the Dominican Republic for a musical outreach program performing concerts along the way. Members of the Millikin Wind Ensemble performed in Santo Domingo and La Romana and spent time demonstrating instruments to young students in public and private schools.  The Millikin band program also sponsored a drive for used instruments in the Decatur community and was able to donate many instruments to students in the DR.  In March 1999, Dr. Gary Shaw, conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble was invited by the United States Information Agency and the City of La Romana to work with the Municipal Band of La Romana and give presentations to children in local schools.

Picture taken in the Dominican Republic.

Frequent guest conductors and soloists have visited the Millikin University campus to perform with students in the band program. Notable conductors include John P. Paynter, Stephen Egglelston, Robert Grechesky, Charles Menghini and conductor/composer Robert W. Smith. Notable guest soloists performing with the bands include Millikin faculty members, Canadian Brass trumpeter, Ronald Romm; tubist Harvey Phillips; and trombonist John Marcellus. The Millikin Wind Ensemble has also participated in several new composition consortium with other universities. Composers involved in these new pieces for wind ensemble include David Maslanka, David Gillingham, John Stevens, Joseph Schwantner and Libby Larsen.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has released three compact disc recordings, Postcard from the Prairie (2002), Tempered Steel (2003), and most recently, A Tribute to John Philip Sousa (2005). These recordings are produced by Millikin University's student run record label First Step Records.