Columbia Summer Winds

Two Decades of Musicianship

Columbia Summer Winds (CSW) was founded in 2002 in New York City and quickly blossomed into a community band with some of the most passionate musicians from across the tri-state area.

From 2022-2023 CSW boasted anywhere up to 80+ musicians and were always committed to playing fun, family-friendly performances in parks throughout New York City, entirely free to the community. CSW’s musical repertoire ranged from classic band pieces and orchestral transcriptions to Broadway show tunes and new works from their biennial Outdoor Composition Contest, which went on hiatus after the 2018 season.

CSW supported lifelong learning and music appreciation not only through its public performances, but also through its commitment to providing its members with opportunities like Composer Night (founded in 2013) in which guest conductors clinic the band and the Outdoor Composition Contest.

We are tremendously proud of the over 20 year history and are grateful to Columbia University for helping us get started. We are also incredibly grateful for past managers, board members, and artistic staff who have played a role in supporting and growing the organization, including Debra Silver and Dan Tedlie who will always be remembered fondly by both the group and the community.