Midwest Winds is a
civic wind ensemble dedicated to enhancing the musical arts in the
community at large and educating young musicians about instrumental
musicianship. The group consists of musicians
performing high quality wind ensemble and band literature in the Kansas
City, Missouri metropolitan area.
The ensemble performs four distinct concert series per concert season that appeal to diverse audiences and include literature challenging the musicianship of our performers. Midwest Winds rehearses and performs in the Greater Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area.
Midwest Winds was founded in August 2002 by Pam Smith Kelly, Jodie Lin, and Heather Petznick Pickett, who have also served as the ensemble's conductors and musical directors. Midwest Winds was honored to perform in the President's Concert at the Kansas Music Educators Association Convention on Thursday, February 23, 2006.
Midwest Winds is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Midwest Winds contributes to the local
musical community by:
Performing joint concerts with other civic ensembles and educational musical groups in the metropolitan Kansas City area and throughout the Midwest region; and
Co-sponsoring or contributing to musical scholarships for students through related musical organizations, such as for performance or new musical compositions.
Future contributions to the local musical community may include:
Co-sponsoring or conducting clinics to assist and guide young musicians in developing and mastering their musical skills, such as through one-on-one mentoring and demonstrations of technique and musicianship;
Sponsoring or conducting competitions for young musicians to encourage them to excel in the mastery and performance of the musical arts and to provide them the opportunity to observe and encourage the same from their musical peers; and
Commissioning and performing new music.
JODIE LIN
(photo at left)
graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of
Music with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Masters of Music
in instrumental conducting. Ms. Lin was a band director in the public
schools for 11 years, served three years as the Assistant Principal at
Rosedale Middle School, and currently holds the position of a Curriculum
Coordinator in the Kansas City, Kansas School District. She is a
freelance bassoonist and has enjoyed performing with various artists and
groups, including the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Chamber
Orchestra, Harry Connick, Jr., Mannheim Steamroller, and the Moody
Blues. Ms. Lin maintains a private bassoon studio in the southern
Johnson County area.
HEATHER PETZNICK PICKETT
studied
saxophone and music education at the University of Missouri at Kansas City
Conservatory of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education. Ms.
Pickett studied conducting under Gary Hill and has under the direction of
several distinguished conductors, including William D. Revelli, Frederick
Fennell, and Colonel John R. Bourgeois, USMC (Ret.), Director Emeritus of “The
President’s Own” United States Marine Band. She
taught middle school band for five years and private woodwind lessons for ten
years. After graduating from the Conservatory, she returned to UMKC to study
law and practiced products-liability law at Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. in
Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to her legal practice and Midwest
Winds, Ms. Pickett is a freelance saxophonist and Conductor for the Greater
Kansas City American Legion Band.
PAM SMITH KELLY (photo at right) received her Bachelor of Music Education from Central Missouri State University and her Masters in Music Education from Kansas University. She taught Elementary Music for 16 years and currently teaches Middle Level Choral Music at Oxford Middle School in the Blue Valley School District. She has served as the KMEA Northeast District Elementary Chair, KMEA State Elementary Chair, KMEA Middle Level Chair, on numerous other music education state committees, and as guest director/clinician for bands and choirs. She is a bassoonist and the Founder and President of Claude T. Smith Publications, Inc., which publishes the instrumental and choral works of her late father. She is also Director and Coordinator for Children’s Choirs and Director of the Stanley Symphony at the Presbyterian Church of Stanley.
♫♫ Kansas Music Educators Association Convention
February 23, 2006