The Arizona Winds concludes its 2021-2022 concert season at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 5 in the Vista Center for the Arts, 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise.

The concert, titled “America: The Dream Goes On”, will feature a wide variety of patriotic selections to honor America and brave men and women, past and present, who have served in Armed Forces in defense of freedom and democracy.

The band will have just recently returned from Santa Fe, N.M., where they performed for the Association of Concert Bands National Convention.
“The Arizona Winds is one of only four bands selected for this honor from a national pool of applicants through a rigorous review and audition process”. We’re very proud to have represented Arizona at a national event attended by hundreds of musicians who continue their life-long musical journeys in community bands across the country”, stated the band’s Music Director and Conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Rich Shelton, USAF (Ret.).

He said the winds' audience has been very supportive and is excited for the band to have been selected for this distinct honor.

“It was really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our musicians to showcase their hard work and musicianship before their peers from all across the country”, stated Shelton.

For the band’s final concert of the season on June 5, Colonel Shelton has selected works that highlight America’s rich heritage and moments in history that shaped our country’s destiny.

John Sipple, “the voice of the Arizona Winds,” will once again serve as the band’s announcer and narrator. John also works in plays, musicals, operas, and many books on tape that he has narrated.

Musical selections will include Morton Gould’s rousing “American Salute”; “Rushmore,” a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful,” “Ft. McHenry Suite,” a three-movement work telling the story of the brave Americans who defended Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812 and the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to the “Star Spangled Banner”; “That Others Might Live”, a musical tribute to the United States Air Force Pararescue Jumpers who provide selfless service to fellow troops in all branches of the U.S. military, as well as to civilians in danger; music penned or inspired by America’s march king, John Philip Sousa; a Salute to the Armed Forces” and much more.

Concerts are free and open to the public. Doors open at 2. For information about the band’s season, or to contribute to its operating fund, visit its site.