About The Florida Wind Band

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Wind Band is to entertain and inspire the community through live performances of high-quality wind band music, while providing enhanced youth performance opportunities.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be the premier wind band in the Tampa Bay Area.

The Florida Wind Band is a non-profit organization in Tampa, Florida, encompassing adult and youth wind ensembles aimed at providing talented local musicians of all ages a musical outlet for performance. In addition to our primary adult wind ensemble comprised of the area’s top professional musicians, the Florida Wind Band is the parent organization to Bay Area Youth (BAY) Winds. BAY Winds is Tampa Bay’s premier outlet for outstanding students to perform in high-caliber wind ensembles aimed at providing additional performance opportunities for the area's top middle and high school students.

Our History

The Florida Wind Band is Tampa's premier wind band, bringing entertaining and inspiring performances of high-quality music to our vibrant and engaging community. The ensemble is comprised of professional musicians which include K-12 teachers, college professors, and full-time performers who have a deep love for the eclectic repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary composers. The band is led by USF’s Director of Bands, Matthew McCutchen, who is dedicated to programming music that will make audiences laugh, cry, dance, and wonder.

Wind bands are an integral part of American history and culture. From circuses to military ceremonies, from concerts in the park to concerts in Carnegie Hall, bands have provided Americans with entertainment and artistic enlightenment for generations. From the great touring professional bands of the 19th and early 20th centuries to the outstanding high school and collegiate ensembles that have entertained the country since World War II, wind bands have long captured the heart and imaginations of audiences across the county.  

Outside of our country’s wonderful military bands, there are currently no full-time professional wind bands in America, so when John Carmichael moved to Tampa in 2007 to become the Director of Bands at the University of South Florida, he came with the goal of rectifying that situation. He believed that the Tampa Bay area has the unique ability to support such an ensemble, and he spent the next 11 years until his retirement working tirelessly to bring this dream to fruition.

Since its debut in 2008, the Florida Wind Band has entertained thousands of people, including prestigious performances for the American Bandmaster's Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association Convention.  We look forward to many more years of inspired music-making and hope you will join us in these endeavors.

Support Our Mission & Vision

Our ensemble continues to grow and thrive by the selfless work of our volunteers and generous support from donations and sponsorships within the community. There are many ways you can make a contribution to support our mission. You can become a monthly donor or make a one-time tax-exempt donation by visiting our donate page. Tiered sponsorships are also available for corporations, individuals, and families by visiting our sponsorships page.