Pacific Wind Bands

A little throwback for this wonderful Thursday.

April 2, 2026 the conservatory hosted another successful Pacific Wind Bands festival! This year we welcomed 9 schools, with a total of 10 ensembles, for a day of music. Visiting ensembles had a chance to perform on stage, receive a clinic from adjudicators, and experience instrumental clinics from our amazing Pacific faculty.

Thank you to all that made our second festival successful and thank you to the schools that participated!
Participating schools:
Lathrop High School
Pitman High School
Turlock High School
Franklin High School of Elk Grove
Jesuit High School
Franklin High School of Stockton
Laguna Creek High School
Sheldon High School
Johansen High School

Be on the lookout for registration for next year’s Wind Band Festival happening Thursday, April 1, 2027. Registration opens September 1, 2026.
Hope to see you there!

What an incredible way to finish the semester’s performance cycle for the Pacific Wind Bands! During the day, the campus hosted more than 450 high school students participating in the 2nd annual University of the Pacific Wind Band Festival. The event concluded with an amazing performance by the Pacific Wind Bands and included special guest conductor Dr. Jason Caslor from Arizona State University and guest artist Dr. Otis Murphy from Indiana University. The performance also showcased 2025-2026 Conservatory Performance Competition winner, Casey Kim and 2025-2026 Conservatory Competition winner, Edmund Bascon.
Congratulations to all for a wonderful performance!

Tonight!
We have had a wonderful time working with artist-in-residence this week as we prepare for our first concert of the semester.

Join us tonight as the Pacific Wind Bands present “I, Too” featuring Lisa Williamson, soprano.
7:30pm Faye Spanos Concert Hall
Tickets $10-15 are available online or at the door, 30 minutes before the performance. Students with a valid ID are free.

Congratulations to Dr. Vu Nguyen for being selected as one of the winners of The American Prize Marian Anderson Award in Social Justice, 2025 (college/university division) from the Pacifc Wind Bands performance of Requiem for the Unarmed by Kevin Day ( ).

This award honors the extraordinary legacy of one of America’s greatest performing artists (Marian Anderson), while annually recognizing and rewarding The American Prize laureate who best exemplifies the singer’s courage and trailblazing fortitude as an artist of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

From rehearsals inside of Faye Spanos Concert hall to sectionals with our amazing instrumental faculty, we have been hard at work over the last 2 weeks practicing to perform an amazing concert tomorrow night you won’t want to miss!

American Soundscapes
Friday, November 7, 2025
7:30pm Faye Spanos Concert Hall

With threads of jazz, blues, and spirit, the Pacific Wind Bands will be performing a living musical tapestry of American sound.
A reflection on where our music comes from, and the fire that keeps it alive.

Come hear this intense and colorful performance
Friday, November 7
7:30pm
Faye Spanos Concert Hall

Featuring:
• Professor Joe Mazzaferro, Trumpet performing selections from Miles Ahead