After nearly 18 months of artistic silence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Winds is ready to begin making music again.

Like other performing arts organizations around the country, COVID stopped the Arizona Winds in its tracks mid-season in 2020. Musicians couldn’t get together to rehearse or perform, and performance venues went dark.

Now, the CDC and federal, state and local governments have determined that it’s time to resume most activities, and the Arizona Winds musicians are not wasting another minute.

Rehearsals for the 70-plus-member group begin Tuesday, July 6 in preparation for their upcoming season which begins Sunday, Oct. 24.

“With all that has transpired over the past 18 months, we find that we have a few key positions to fill,” the band’s music director and conductor, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) Rich Shelton, stated in a news release. “We are looking for highly skilled musicians on French horn, English Horn/Oboe, and percussion/mallets.”

Anyone with substantial skill on any of those instruments should contact Shelton at 623-670-1520.

The Arizona Winds, an 85-member concert band located in Glendale, is celebrating its 45th year, and is comprised of adults from across the Valley and who represent numerous professions from music educators to engineers, homemakers to accountants, who continue to share their love of music.

The Arizona Winds is a nonprofit which presents a series of six free concerts each season, and depends entirely upon the tax-deductible contributions of its patrons.

Performances take place at the Cactus High School Auditorium, 6330 W. Greenway Road, and are free.

Visit azwinds.com.

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