Grand Symphonic Winds, or GSW, was founded in late 1987 by two recent college graduates, Jim Dempsey and Carrie Magnuson. Jim and Carrie had been accomplished musicians in college, and they wished to keep playing challenging music in a concert band setting. Finding that the traditional "community band" repertoire of marches and show tunes was not satisfying their need for musical achievement and growth, they decided to start their own ensemble. They envisioned Grand Symphonic Winds as a community-based, non-professional concert band that would perform college-level and higher music of all eras and styles. The group's goals were two-fold: to entertain its audiences and broaden their musical horizons, and also to provide a stimulating and fun musical outlet for adults who were skilled musicians but had chosen career paths other than musical performance. Jim and Carrie rallied their former bandmates to blow the dust off their horns, and those friends branched out to recruit other musicians they knew, and soon Grand Symphonic Winds was ready for its first rehearsal. That rehearsal took place on January 14, 1988, in the basement of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. GSW played its first concert a few months later, to a delighted audience of friends and family in the Gloria Dei sanctuary.
Jim Dempsey remained GSW's leader and musical director from its inception through 1993 and under his guidance, the group quickly became the premiere community-based concert band in the Twin Cities. In those early days, the group often performed concerts at the Landmark Centre in downtown St. Paul, among other locales, and was featured at the Minnesota Community Band Festival on several occasions. The group not only played challenging, high quality music, but also featured many accomplished guest soloists, including Margaret Pauley (saxophone), Gary Crowe and Frank Ell (both clarinet), Matthew George (trumpet) and Ben Kirby (tuba), and guest conductors such as Marcia LaRue, John Zdechlik and the late Frank Bencriscutto.
Tragically, health problems forced Jim Dempsey to retire as GSW's music director in 1993, and he passed away in 1995 at the age of 33. Grand Symphonic Winds will always remember Jim, its co-founder, first musical director, and visionary. The group would not exist if not for Jim's dedication, creativity and perserverance.
After Mr. Dempsey's retirement from GSW, Ben Kirby stepped in to lead the group as Interim Director for about two years, helping GSW to remain intact despite the loss of its leader. In 1995, the group was fortunate enough to land Professor Matthew George, Director of Bands - and now Chair of the Department of Music - at the University of St. Thomas as its new Music Director. Dr. George recently completed his tenth year at the helm of GSW, guiding the group to new heights of musical performance. During Dr. George's tenure, GSW has also featured several extraordinary Assistant Directors: Rob McWilliams, Scott Jones, and Dennis Lindsay, all renowned high school or college band directors in their own right.
The group has performed at venues throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin, including several concerts at the 3M Auditorium in the Minnesota History Center, and appearances at the College of St. Benedict, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin, and numerous concerts at other colleges, community centers, high schools and churches. The band has also been selected twice to perform at the annual convention of the Minnesota Music Educators' Association (MMEA). Guest soloists who have appeared with the group over the past decade include Eugene Rousseau (saxophone), Manuel Laureano (trumpet), Norman Bolter (trombone), Adele Lorraine (flute), Linda Merrick (clarinet), Joan Griffith (acoustic guitar), Paul Schulz (bass clarinet), Christopher Kachian (electric guitar), Karen Benson (saxophone), Steve Cronk (flute), James Callahan (piano), Bill Chouinard (organ), Alan Bryan (vocal), student solo competition winner Dan Larson (tuba), and the percussion ensemble Rim Shot. In addition, GSW has been fortunate to host several globally-recognized guest conductors over the last ten years, including Ralph Hultgren, Guy Woolfenden, Nigel Clarke and Martin Ellerby.
Moreover, GSW is not content just to produce beautiful music. Over its 19-year history, the group has also produced several inter-band marriages and children, not to mention countless new friendships.
Considering that it has barely reached the age of "majority," GSW has a proud and illustrious history. The group looks forward to providing a challenging and stimulating outlet for instrumental musicians throughout the Twin Cities, and providing entertaining and provocative performances for audience throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin, for decades to come.
