Our History

Formed in 1975, the Salem Symphonic Winds was originally called the Salem Wind Ensemble. In 1981, it reorganized to become the Salem Concert Band, a non-profit community adult band and a forum for local musicians to perform quality traditional and contemporary band literature. In 2018, it changed its name to Salem Symphonic Winds.

The Salem Symphonic Winds is a vibrant community of 50 to 60 adults from various walks of life in the Salem, Oregon, area. Our members, with their diverse occupations and backgrounds, are united by a shared love for creating and performing great music.

The group has commissioned several new works and regularly includes new literature in its programming.

The band typically performs four concerts in its regular season; at Rose Auditorium at South Salem High School in Salem. They also perform an annual pops-style concert at the Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Inn in McMinnville. Additional concerts are also scheduled in the Salem area.

Pre-pandemic, the Salem Symphonic Winds rehearsed Monday evenings from 7:15-9:30 pm in the McNary High School band room.

If you're interested in joining the Salem Symphonic Winds, we encourage you to visit our Join Us and  Contact Us pages for more information. We welcome you to observe a few rehearsals at the start of a rehearsal series before scheduling an audition. Our new members are selected based on their musical ability and their willingness to commit to our schedule of rehearsals and performances, a testament to our dedication to creating quality music.