The British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles is an organisation that represents symphonic bands and wind ensembles, also known as concert band

Concert band

A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...

s, in the UK.

History

It was founded in July 1981 by Timothy Reynish at a conference for symphonic bands and wind ensembles at the Royal Northern College of Music

Royal Northern College of Music

The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...

 (RNCM) in Manchester.

Participation

Wind ensembles are often found at universities, and are more prevalent amongst younger people, who have more opportunity and encouragement to join like-minded musical people, e.g. at some schools. Older people would not be able, by definition, to join these bands. The existence of a wind band at a particular school is strongly associated with more successful schools. However a successful school need not have a wind band or orchestra.

Structure

It is partly funded by the PRS Foundation.

Members include:

• North Cheshire Wind Orchestra
  North Cheshire Wind Orchestra
  The North Cheshire Wind Orchestra is a symphonic wind orchestra based in Warrington, England.The membership of around 40 players is drawn from throughout the North West of England, many of whom travel considerable distances to rehearsals...
  
  

Function

It publishes Winds Magazine and runs the BASBWE Education Trust, which was formed in April 1990 and registered as a charity in June 1990.

The charity funds young people to attend the Canford Summer School of Music

Canford School

Canford School is a coeducational independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the village of Canford Magna, near to the market town of Wimborne Minster in Dorset, in South West England. The school was founded in 1923. There are approximately 600 pupils at Canford, organised into houses...

BASBWE Wind Band Conductors Course.