The San Antonio Wind Symphony was founded in 2003 through the efforts of bass trombonist Roderick Leonard. While a student at UTSA, Rod envisioned an ensemble that would provide performance opportunities for musicians outside a college band program while focusing on the finest literature in the wind band repertoire. Through Rod’s musicianship and leadership, the San Antonio Wind Symphony is now in its twenty-third season and has become one of the premier ensembles in South Texas. All members perform on a volunteer basis and represent a wide range of occupations, including public school music teachers, business owners, medical professionals, lawyers, and military musicians.

The wind band has long been closely connected to everyday life. In its early years, concerts were often offered free of charge in outdoor venues, and the repertoire was typically light, accessible, and entertaining.

With the rapid growth of public school band programs in the 1950s, the demand for new music became urgent. New works for wind band soon appeared at an extraordinary pace, and the desire for fresh repertoire became so deeply ingrained that it remains a powerful influence today. As a result, interest in new music often pushes older works out of regular performance practice, sometimes causing them to be forgotten or go out of print. This puts access to a deeper and more varied repertoire at risk.

The San Antonio Wind Symphony has made this one of its highest callings: to keep older works in the repertoire from falling into disuse, to preserve music that might otherwise be forgotten, and to uncover new works by both well-known and lesser-known composers.

The San Antonio Wind Symphony is a 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the federal government, and all gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Taxpayer ID: 30-0847359