Ladies and Gentleman, please say hello to our new Concertmaster and Principal Trumpet, Ms. Angela Berens.  Maestro Maguire filled the concertmaster role with a non traditional instrumentalist in naming Ms. Berens.  We asked her to reflect on this appointment.

Angela Writes:

"When I first joined The Desert Winds, I quickly realized just how incredible the musicians and leadership team of the ensemble truly are.  I admired the creativity of the leadership team and the ensemble’s accomplishments in prior seasons. I also fell in love with the community of musicians that The Desert Winds created.  So when I was asked to join the leadership team as concertmaster for the 2016-2017 season, I was instantly filled with excitement! To be able to share my ideas and my own leadership skills with an already incredibly strong team and to be able to stand in front of a group of musicians whom I have utmost respect and appreciation for is humbling. I am honored by this opportunity and I am looking forward to taking The Desert Winds to the next level both musically and professionally. My vision as the concertmaster of The Desert Winds is to continue to build upon our community of musicians and audience members and to ensure that our musical moments together as an ensemble are moments that will be remembered in years to come. Each season The Desert Winds raises the bar even higher for community ensembles in Las Vegas and across the country and this season will be no exception. This season is full of excitement, entertainment, outstanding musicianship, and even some surprises. Our audience members are about to experience a Desert Winds like never before- you will not want to miss this!"

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Acclaimed Brazilian Pianist to Perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

Las Vegas’ premiere contemporary ensemble The Desert Winds to perform with guest artist

LAS VEGAS, Mar. 31, 2014 ­­­­-- The Desert Winds, Las Vegas’ premiere contemporary wind ensemble, will feature famed Brazilian pianist, Tânia Cançado. Cançado will perform her signature piece, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” with guest conductor, Steven Trinkle, on May 17, 2014, at Community Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $15 at www.thedesertwinds.org or at the door the night of the concert.

Tânia Mara Lopes Cançado is an internationally-acclaimed pianist and is currently dean of the School of Music at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She studied with eminent pianists Eduardo Hazan (Brazil), Jacques Klein (Brazil), Sergio Magnani (Italy), and Hans Graff (Austria). She has also toured with many symphony orchestras throughout Brazil, Cuba, and the United States.

This concert, “ELEMENTS: Air”, marks the end of The Desert Winds’ season 2013-2014. The Desert Winds is a local wind ensemble led by artistic director, Charles A Maguire. The group is comprised of over 50 professional and semi-professional musicians, who primarily showcase music of contemporary composers. Now in their fifth season, The Desert Winds was voted “Best Performing Arts Group” in the LVRJ’s “Best of Las Vegas” for 2014.

The Desert Winds with CNY In The Desert

ELEMENTS: EARTH THE DW IN CONCERT

The Desert Winds will open their 5th season entitled “Elements” October 11, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.  

Continuing in residency at the beautiful Community Lutheran Church located at 3720 East Tropicana Avenue, this opening concert will embrace the music of the Element:  EARTH.  Featuring the works of Michael Markowski, Robert W. Smith, Aaron Copland and the late Michael Kamen, this concert will explore nature and all of its compounding beauty.  The “DW”continues to advance the appreciation of modern repertoire by educating, inspiring, and entertaining audiences.  Limited Season Passes are still available for $40 and individual donation tickets are available for $10 by going to www.TheDesertWinds.org and clicking on Tickets.  Please contact Jordan Mathisen at 702-751-4676 or thedesertwinds@gmail.com for more information.

ELEMENTS: EARTH

Post by Chuck Maguire.

Our 2013-14 SEASON: ELEMENTS

LIMITED NUMBER OF SEASON PASSES AVAILABLE BY GOING TO:

THE DESERT WINDS SEASON PASSES

Press Release

The Desert Winds “Japanese Sketches” Concert 2/16/13

The Desert Winds, Las Vegas’ premiere contemporary wind ensemble, cordially invites you to the next concert of its 2012-3 Season:

The Desert Winds promotes the performance of contemporary wind band literature as a rendering of today’s societal expressions, and strives to advance the appreciation of modern repertoire through outreach to educate, inspire, and entertain audiences. The Desert Winds next concert entitled “Japanese Sketches” will take place on Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Community Lutheran Church (3720 East Tropicana Ave; Las Vegas, NV 89121). The program will feature music by Japanese composers, including the North American première of Jun Nagao's Die Heldenzeit with guest saxophone artist Lynzii O'Connor.  Donation tickets are available online at www.thedesertwinds.org for $10. Please contact Samantha Reber, Publicity Advisor, at 702-751-4676 or thedesertwinds@gmail.com for more information.