WIND ORCHESTRA
The Wind Orchestra was founded in 2007 to provide high-caliber wind-centric musical exposure to audiences in northern New Mexico.
Our music format focuses on the performance of contemporary – and traditional – works of wind orchestra literature. And our programs are quite varied and can include period American and non-American pieces involving strings, voice, and a variety of keyboards. As one of only a handful of professional-level wind orchestras in the country, we offer local and regional audiences the opportunity to experience music very few people can access.
Rather than engaging a full-time artistic director or conductor, the Wind Orchestra invites a guest conductor of national renown for each concert to select repertoire, rehearse the ensemble and present a performance. All of our guest conductors are dedicated to advancing the wind orchestra format as a contemporary medium for live music.
Next Concert:
Gratitude
Sunday, June 1, 2025
2:00 pm • New Mexico Museum of Art
107 W Palace Avenue • Santa Fe
Admission is Free, with donations gratefully accepted at the door
Guest Conductor
Richard Mayne is Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado where he conducted the Symphonic Band, taught conducting, supervised student teachers, directed the marching band, and taught other music education courses as needed. Along with his curricular responsibilities, he produced seven CD recordings (each featuring all UNC bands). He also recorded the annual promotional recording for the Grand Mesa Music publishing company for 25 years. In addition, he was coordinator/host of the annual UNC Conducting Symposium, which featured the UNC Symphonic Band as the clinic ensemble. He was co-administrator for the Colorado All-State Bands Festival for 27 years.
Dr. Mayne served as music director/conductor of the Fort Collins Wind Symphony for six years prior to moving to Arizona. He served for five years as the music director/conductor of the Colorado (British) Brass Band Workshop in Gunnison, Colorado. He also served for five years as the music director/conductor of the Denver Orion Winds Double Woodwind Quintet, an ensemble focused on performing chamber winds masterworks.
Dr. Mayne is an active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and Lebanon. He serves as a conductor in residence at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo Japan. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). In 2013 he was inducted into the Colorado Bandmasters Hall of Fame as the annual honorary member. Dr. Mayne is a supporter of traditional wind band repertoire while also encouraging current composers and new music. He has served on the National Band Association – Revelli Composition Contest selection committee, the American Bandmasters Association – Ostwald Composition Contest Selection committee, and on the Grand Mesa Music selection committee for 25 years.
He completed his Ph.D. in Music Education at The Ohio State University (OSU), where he studied conducting with Craig Kirchhoff and Richard Blatti. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Arizona State University, studying conducting with Richard Strange and Robert C. Fleming, trombone with Gail Wilson, and was mentored in his student teaching by Bill Richardson.
Dr. Mayne taught public school in Arizona at the high school level for eleven years, nine of those being at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona. While teaching public school, he served as President of the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and played trombone in the Tempe Symphony Orchestra for ten years during his time in Arizona.