The West Chester University Wind Ensemble is a renowned classical music ensemble that has been entertaining audiences for over four decades. Founded in 1979, the ensemble has become a staple of the West Chester University music program and has gained a reputation for excellence in performance. The ensemble was founded by Dr. John Villella, who served as the director of bands at West Chester University from 1975 to 2005. Dr. Villella had a passion for wind music and wanted to create an ensemble that would showcase the talents of the university's wind and percussion students. He assembled a group of talented musicians and began rehearsing for their first performance. The ensemble's main members are the wind and percussion students of West Chester University. The ensemble is open to all students who play a wind or percussion instrument and who pass an audition. The ensemble typically consists of around 50 to 60 members, and they rehearse twice a week throughout the academic year. Over the years, the West Chester University Wind Ensemble has performed at numerous prestigious venues and events. They have performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Conference, the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference, and the National Band Association Eastern Division Conference. They have also performed at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was their appearance at the 2009 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, which is the largest instrumental music education conference in the world. The ensemble was one of only six university wind ensembles selected to perform at the conference, and they received rave reviews for their performance. The West Chester University Wind Ensemble has also received numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 1999, they were selected as the winner of the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Flag of Honor, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a university wind ensemble. They have also been selected as a finalist for the American Prize in Wind Ensemble Performance multiple times. In addition to their performances and awards, the West Chester University Wind Ensemble is also committed to commissioning and performing new works for wind ensemble. They have commissioned and premiered works by composers such as David Maslanka, John Mackey, and Michael Daugherty. Overall, the West Chester University Wind Ensemble is a world-class ensemble that has made a significant impact on the world of wind music. Their dedication to excellence in performance, commitment to commissioning new works, and numerous awards and accolades have solidified their place as one of the top university wind ensembles in the country.

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