Genre Style: Symphony

Location: Portsmouth 

How did the project start? 

The Portsmouth Wind Symphony (PWS) (founded as the Portsmouth Community Orchestra and later becoming the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra) entered into its first season in 1993 to provide Portsmouth and surrounding communities with the finest in live classical and light classical musical performances. The PWS’s mission remains the same today – to present diverse and accessible programs by utilizing local musicians from area high schools, Shawnee State University and adults from the southern Ohio region.

What are three adjectives to describe your style? 

Not quite three adjectives, but more our philosophy, we’ve maintained the objective of playing good music and having fun while doing it.

Walk us through your creative process. Does it vary, if so, how? 

Each year, the music director is tasked with creating four to seven performance themes. Each season begins with the first rehearsal in mid-August, continuing each Monday night through our final performance on the following July 4th. Each concert has about four to six weekly rehearsals leading up to each performance. Each performance has a different theme that varies with each season.

How has your art evolved since you started?

Having begun in 1993 as the Portsmouth Community Orchestra, that included stringed instruments (violins, viola, cello, double bass) the PWS increased its status to a more paid level for stringed instruments becoming the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. After a decline in the availability of local stringed instrument players in the area, in 2013, the PWS reorganized as a band, becoming the Portsmouth Wind Symphony, eliminating stringed instruments as the cost of bringing in paid musicians from outside the area became too financially difficult.

What is your favorite creative tool, and why?

Sight reading is an important and challenging exercising that is vital to improving the band’s quality and musicianship of our players.

What about being an artist fills your cup? Why should others take interest in the arts?

Personally, and I think I speak for most of our members, the ability to continue to play and perform on a regular basis provides a necessary creative outlet for those of us who work and have lives that don’t include playing professionally. It is something we look forward to each week in getting to play with a good group of like minded and talented players from all walks of life.

Any advice for new or struggling artists?

We invite interested musicians to come give the PWS a try and most who do usually are happy that they did and continue to play for many years. We have some players who have been playing with the PWS since its inception over thirty years ago.

What upcoming project should we look for, and where can we look for it?

The PWS will be performing its annual Christmas concert at the VRCFA on Saturday night, December 9th with an encore performance the following afternoon at the Ironton High School Auditorium after having been invited by the Ironton Arts Council. Each year for the Christmas concert a local choral ensemble is invited to perform with PWS. Our Saturday night performance this year will include for the first time, the Wheelersburg High School Choir taking the stage with the PWS.

What question do you never get asked that you would like to be asked? How would you answer?

Not a question that is never asked, just not often enough is “How do I become a member of the Portsmouth Wind Symphony?” We’re always recruiting new musicians and I always answer “just come to a rehearsal and give it a try”. Most that really have an interest in playing will do just that and will be hooked on the fun times and good music.