Annapolis Wind Symphony

The Annapolis Wind Symphony was founded by its music director, Marc F. Boensel, in the summer of 1999.  The AWS is a consortium of professional woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians, all of whom volunteer their time and talent to the parallel causes of raising funds for charities, and the preservation, promotion and performance of classical symphonic band and chamber wind music. The 45 members of the AWS are a cross section of musicians here in central Maryland, with current and former military band members, public school music teachers, college professors, and symphony musicians making up the ranks of the only wind ensemble in Anne Arundel County that performs exclusively from the symphonic band repertoire, as well as the finest in classical chamber music for winds. This music, on a par with the finest classical orchestral and vocal music, is rarely heard outside of academia, and is some of the finest classical music of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  For its dedication to helping local charities, the AWS has received awards from various institutions, including the American Red Cross, recognizing its unique role as a philanthropic arts organization.

 Founder and conductor Marc Friedrich Boensel is a native of Los Angeles, California, and has conducted bands, orchestras and choirs in California, Virginia and Maryland for 25 years. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University Fullerton, a Master of Music degree from San Diego State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland. He has studied conducting with Benton Minor, Edmund Williams, Robert Gilson, John Wakefield and James Ross. In addition to his philanthropic work with the AWS, Dr. Boensel has been the Director of Music for First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis since 1996. Marc continues a career as an oboist and vocalist that has spanned more than 25 years in California, Virginia and Maryland.  His continued work with the AWS brought Marc the honor of being the 2006 Sandy Spring Bank Community Champion for charity work on behalf of the homeless and in 2005 he was honored as a special fund raiser by the American Red Cross.  Marc is currently a music faculty member of Anne Arundel Community College and American University in Washington, DC.

 

Members of the Annapolis Wind Symphony are all professional wind and percussion musicians, drawn from various walks of musical life, including professional educators, military musicians, orchestral musicians and local artists.