A look at some of this year’s wind bands

Opus 92 (France)

The band was founded by Andre Menudet, Eric Villevire and Jacques Biolay in 1992.

It was joined by music lovers as well as students and graduates with more than nine years of instrumental music study.

This active band rehearses weekly and presents concerts all year in the region of Lyon and Beaujolais.

The current conductor is Fabien Bernoud, a renowned oboe player. As the oboe soloist, he has come to Shanghai three times in the past with Lyon National Orchestra and performed concerts at Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Oriental Art Center and Shanghai Concert Hall.

In September 2009, Bernoud was invited to become the conductor of Opus 92.

Nanjing Grassroots Wind Band

Established in 2008 by amateur wind music lovers and retired workers, the Nanjing Grassroots Wind Band gathers those who love wind music but are not professionals. Now, after fives years, the band has more than 50 players.

The band rehearses at Xuanwu Lake Park, attracting visitors who listen and people sharing the same passion to join in.

Wanli Wind Band of Putuo New Long March Art Troupe

Founded in 2011, Wanli Wind Band has brought programs like “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Mexican Trumpet” that mix East with West.

They’ve won awards in Shanghai, and they perform to community audiences regularly.

Shanghai International Studies University Bilingual School

The wind band of the bilingual school was founded in 2008 and now has 70 members. The team of young students won the gold last year at the Yangpu Cup, a non-professional wind band competition.

Chia-yi Bo-ai Elementary School Wind Band

This elementary school band has more than 71 members who perform outdoor marching routines. The school from Taiwan also has wind music classes to nurture talents.

Yangfan Wind Band of Chongqing Special Education Center

In 2011, to fulfill the music dream of a group of blind children, the teachers at the special education center picked up the instruments and brought the students into a musical journey.

In 2012, they were invited to the Shanghai Spring International Wind Music Festival and this May they will return to Shanghai.

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