Los Alamos Community Winds

We are a wind ensemble made up of members of the Los Alamos, NM community. We comprise both amateur and professional musicians of all ages and backgrounds from middle and high school students to retirees in our area.

Among our goals are:

1. To provide the Los Alamos community with a quality performing ensemble specializing in the best literature for the concert band and wind ensemble as a creative outlet and as a means for showcasing individual musical talent.

2. To promote public awareness of the importance of music, the arts, and other cultural events both as entertainment and as artistic endeavors.

3. To instill and sustain the American heritage of concert band music at communityfestivals, commemorations and other public gatherings.

4. To provide student musicians in the Los Alamos community with a good representation and model of ensemble performance.

The existence of a community concert band has had a long tradition in the United States. From the bands of John Philip Sousa in the 1800’s to our service bands of the armed forces in Washington to the small concert ensemble that plays in the park, all have contributed to a rich heritage of music in our society and local communities. Hardly a high school or middle school exists without a band program of some sort and it is through the hard work of those band directors that nearly all of us owe a great debt of gratitude with regard to our musical training.

In Los Alamos, the concert band has also had a long history — nearly as long as the city itself. Throughout the past 20-30 years, there have been various incarnations. Jan MacDonald, former band director at LAHS was director of the Los Alamos Concert Band in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. The performances included many weekly summer concerts as well as performing at various civic functions such as the 4th of July fireworks celebrations. The LACW is the latest organization to provide concert band performances to the Los Alamos community.

Our current director and founder Ted Vives, is originally from Auburn, Alabama. His musical experience began with piano lessons but his interests changed to trombone performance and composition upon entering the public school system. Vives holds bachelor’s degrees in both composition and music education from Florida State University. He also holds a Masters of Music in Composition and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida. Dr. Vives has taught in the public schools in Florida and has served as a clinician at band and music camps in many states.

Dr. Vives resides in Los Alamos, New Mexico with his wife, Paula, son, Alex, and daughter Abby.