General Information

Manchester University Wind Orchestra was formed in October 1996 by Philip Robinson  to give the many wind players in the University extra playing opportunities.  It consists of students from the various higher education institutions in Manchester, and gives many concerts around the north-west of England.  The band has increased from initially 40 musicians to around 95 players at full strength. The orchestra is a non-profit making organisation managed by Rachel Pritchard and William Carey, operating with generous assistance from the Manchester University Music Society (MUMS), Stagecoach plc., Manchester Airport plc., Haden Freeman Ltd., Kro Bar and the Vice Chancellor of Manchester University.  The band is a member of both the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles (BASBWE).

Manchester University has achieved continued success in the National Concert Band Festival, reaching the National Final five times over the last eight years. This recognition led to an invitation to perform at the Easter 2000 BASBWE/RNCM International Wind Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music, showcasing new publications for band, including the world premiere of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s Two Symphonic Movements. The orchestra have excelled in performing contemporary works, giving critically acclaimed performances of John Casken’s Distant Variations and James MacMillan’s Sowetan Spring, as well as a rare performance of the wind ensemble music of Igor Stravinsky.  During the last two years, MUWO has given two further concerts at the BASBWE/RNCM IWF featuring the transcriptions (wind orchestrations!) of Geoffrey Brand and John Boyd, and no less than 13 world premieres of music from the Maecenas Genesis series.