Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band

The Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band is a non-profit, tax-exempt, all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing concerts to the Northwest Arkansas community and providing a place for adult musicians to practice their skills. The 2023-2024 concert season marks the 35th season of the group. The band was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1994, under the administrative leadership of President Nancy Sloan, Treasurer Russ Greene, and conductor Chal Ragsdale.

The Band was originally founded in 1988 by Professor Eldon Janzen, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arkansas. Mr. Janzen had a long and distinguished career in music. His professional affiliations included American Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Lions International. Mr. Janzen served as President of Texas Bandmasters Association, President of Southwest Division of CBDNA, President of Arkansas Bandmasters Association and President of Phi Beta Mu International. Past conductors have also included Jerry Boseman, W. Dale Warren, Chal Ragsdale and Tony Falcone. Our current conductor, Michael Ferguson has been our conductor since 1998.

The band is excited to have the Farmington Performing Arts Center in Farmington, Arkansas, as our home performance venue. Before moving to Farmington, the band did not have a permanent home venue and performed at many sites in Northwest Arkansas including Ramay Junior High gym, Central United Methodist Church, the Arts Center of the Ozarks, The Jones Center, Walton Arts Center, Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks, the Eureka Springs Auditorium, and many other venues. The band currently rehearses at the Farmington High School band room. Band rehearsals are every Monday evening from October through July from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

The Arkansas Winds performs an average of 10 concerts a year throughout Northwest Arkansas, in schools, parks, churches and retirement communities. The band performs annually at Orchards Park, the University of Arkansas Commencements and the University of Arkansas Band Camps for Junior High and Senior High students. The Arkansas Winds was previously honored to perform for the Arkansas Band Educators State Conference, the National Association of Concert Bands Convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 2004, and the National Association of Concert Bands Convention in Richardson, Texas, in 2010.

The Arkansas Winds provides free concerts to the community and meets our expenses through performance fees and the generosity of listeners like you. Contributions to the Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band are tax-exempt as described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your support will help us continue our tradition of providing music and musical training to the Northwest Arkansas Community.