The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the premier performing ensemble of the Jackson State University band program. It consists of about 60 talented students majoring in music and other disciplines throughout the University. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs a wide range of orchestral transcriptions and original band compositions representing various musical styles and periods.
Emphasis, however, is placed on the standard band literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Jackson State’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble has been recognized for its long legacy of outstanding musical accomplishments. In 1965, under the baton of William W. Davis, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at the New York World’s Fair, becoming the first historically black college to perform at a world’s fair. In 1997, under the baton of Dr. Lewis Liddell, Sr., the Symphonic Wind Ensemble was featured at the National Black Music Caucus Professional Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Atlanta, Georgia. In 2016, under the baton of Lowell Hollinger, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at the Historically Black College and Universities National Band Directors Consortium in Atlanta, Georgia.
As the cornerstone of Jackson State University’s band program, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble is frequently invited to perform at numerous events throughout the nation and the Jackson State University service area.