Northwinds Symphonic Band

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Northwinds Symphonic Band

The Northwinds Symphonic Band roster includes band directors, both active and retired, music teachers

03/13/2026

When composer John Williams first came up with the famous theme for Jurassic Park, it didn’t start with a full orchestra. It started with him sitting at a piano and simply playing the melody for director Steven Spielberg.

The story goes that Spielberg was so moved by what he heard that he became emotional right there in the room.

What’s even more surprising is that Williams has said the theme itself is incredibly simple. It’s built from just a handful of notes. The real magic happens when the orchestra takes those notes and expands them into the huge, breathtaking sound that perfectly captures the feeling of seeing dinosaurs for the first time.

That simplicity is also why the theme sticks with us. Even people who have never seen the movie can recognize it almost instantly.

Come hear this unforgettable music live with the Northwinds Symphonic Band at our free concert “Williams: Masterworks and Movie Magic.”

First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA - Saturday March 14 - 7:00pm
Admission is Free

03/10/2026

It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s the Northwinds Symphonic Band playing the Superman March!

Join us for a free concert this Saturday at 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA. As part of our program “Williams: Masterworks and Movie Magic,” we will be performing the legendary Superman March by John Williams, one of the most heroic and recognizable movie themes ever written.

Fun Fact: John Williams wrote the Superman March to sound like a timeless heroic fanfare. The soaring trumpet melody was designed to capture the feeling of Superman taking flight, and it has become one of the most iconic superhero themes in film history.

Come hear this powerful music flight live with the full sound of the Northwinds Symphonic Band. Admission is free and everyone is welcome!

12/05/2025

Join us this evening for the Northwinds Symphonic Band Holiday Spectacular, a joyful and completely free concert filled with festive favorites, soaring melodies, and a few musical surprises along the way.

📅 Tonight, Friday, December 5
🕖 7:00pm
📍 First Baptist Church Gainesville
💵 Free for everyone

Here is a peek at what you will hear tonight:

🎤 Michelle Martin sharing her beautiful vocals on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
❄️ The timeless classic Sleigh Ride, complete with the very talented horse you might hear cleverly hidden somewhere in the band.
🎺 Bugler’s Holiday, featuring our talented trumpet trio Steven Rushing, Marion English, and Wally Conrath
🌟 Timeless favorites including White Christmas, Carol of the Drum, Greensleeves, In the Christmas Mood, and much more

Whether you want to start your holiday season with music, enjoy a family friendly night out, or simply relax and take in the beauty of a live performance, we would love to share this evening with you.

Bring your friends, bring your family, and let us make the season bright together. 🎄🎺✨

12/04/2025

“Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” became famous thanks to the Radio City Rockettes, who have performed their iconic wooden soldiers routine every year since 1933 — a tradition so beloved that the choreography has barely changed in nearly 90 years.

We may not have the Rockettes on stage, but we do have an incredible group of Northwinds musicians who will bring this classic (and many others) to life with all the charm, precision, and energy it deserves.

Join us for our Northwinds Symphonic Band Holiday Concert on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA. And remember — the concert is FREE!

Come experience the magic of the season with us. 🎄✨

12/03/2025

Here is some HOT gossip: “Sleigh Ride” wasn’t written at Christmastime at all. Leroy Anderson composed it during a sweltering July heat wave for a winter-themed orchestral piece, and the famous lyrics weren’t added until a couple of years later. Despite its sunny origins, it went on to become one of the most iconic holiday songs ever written!

Hear this classic live at our Northwinds Symphonic Band Holiday Concert on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church Gainesville — and remember, the concert is FREE!

Join us for an evening of joyful music to kick off the season. 🎄✨

12/02/2025

We’re thrilled, as always, to have the wonderful Michelle Martin join us as she brings the timeless classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to life at our upcoming Northwinds Symphonic Band holiday concert!

Fun fact: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was first introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, and it originally had much sadder lyrics before being rewritten into the hopeful holiday classic we know today. From Garland to Frank Sinatra to countless modern artists, this beloved song has been re-recorded again and again, each performer adding their own emotional touch to its timeless melody.

Join us Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA for an evening of festive music, joyful moments, and unforgettable performances like this one. And yes… the concert is FREE.

12/01/2025

A behind-the-scenes look at a Northwinds Symphonic Band rehearsal! 🎺✨

We’re putting the final touches on our FREE holiday concert coming up this Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA — and the music is sounding incredible.

From the powerful fanfare of John Williams’ “Sound the Bells” to the timeless beauty of “Greensleeves,” the band is bringing holiday spirit to every measure. Vocalist Michelle Martin joined us as well, filling the room with classics like White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

We’re excited to share it all with you — including crowd favorites like Bugler’s Holiday and Sleigh Ride — at a festive, family-friendly concert that’s completely FREE.

Hope to see you there! 🎄✨

07/03/2025

🎆 TONIGHT! Kick off your Independence Day celebration with the Northwinds Symphonic Band at Let Freedom Ring! 🇺🇸🎶

🗓 Thursday, July 3rd
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Gainesville Arts Council Pavilion
🎟 Tickets available now: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/theartscouncil/7013

Enjoy a star-spangled evening of music from Billy Joel, music from Earth, Wind & Fire, Songs from The Sound of Music, plus America the Beautiful, Stars and Stripes Forever, Armed Forces Medley, and tons of patriotic favorites.

Bring a chair, bring a friend, and let the music light up your night. See you there!

05/15/2025

Join us this Memorial Day for an evening of powerful and patriotic music, including The Greatest Generation — a stirring composition written for the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. With a heroic fanfare and sweeping melodies, it pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s World War II heroes.

Originally narrated by WWII and Normandy veteran Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, this piece will feature a special narration by Steve Coldiron — making it a standout moment in a concert full of moving tributes.

📅 Memorial Day | 🕖 7:00 PM
📍 First Baptist Church of Gainesville
🎺 Presented by Northwinds Symphonic Band

05/12/2025

Headed out for Memorial Day weekend? You’re not alone—over 45 million Americans are hitting the road according to AAA!(https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/05/memorial-day-forecast/)

But if your travels take you near Gainesville, GA make a patriotic pit stop with us!

🎶 Join the Northwinds Symphonic Band for a stirring Memorial Day concert full of powerful music, heartfelt tributes, and a celebration of those who served.

📍 First Baptist Church of Gainesville
🕖 Monday, May 27 at 7:00 PM
🎤 Featuring special guest vocalist Michelle Martin

Free and open to the public — your perfect holiday destination just got a little more musical. 🎺🇺🇸

05/09/2025

Did you know the beloved song "America the Beautiful" was inspired by a trip to Pikes Peak in Colorado? In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates journeyed from Massachusetts to Colorado and was awestruck by the breathtaking view from the summit. The “purple mountain majesties” she described in her poem came directly from that experience—and eventually became one of the most iconic lines in American music. In fact, the Colorado Rockies even chose purple as one of their team colors in tribute!

You can hear this stirring piece live—along with a full lineup of patriotic favorites—at Northwinds Symphonic Band’s Memorial Day Concert on May 26 at 7 PM at First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA. 🇺🇸

05/07/2025

🎺 Sneak peek from rehearsal! The Northwinds Symphonic Band is getting ready for a powerful Memorial Day concert you won’t want to miss.

Join us as we honor those who served with moving music, special guest vocalist Michelle Martin, and a program filled with heart, history, and harmony. 💙

📍 First Baptist Church Gainesville, GA
🗓️ Memorial Day May 26th
⏰ 7pm in the Sanctuary

FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/2203999300031514

Come early, bring a friend, and let the music lift your spirit.

Address

Gainesville, GA
30501

Website

http://www.northwinds.org/

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