“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Saint Augustine
Welcome to Our 24th Season!
Dear Patrons of the Sacramento Symphonic Winds,
Welcome to the 24th Season of the Sacramento Symphonic Winds! I am honored and humbled to begin my fifth full season as Music and Artistic Director of SSW. It has been a pleasure to help guide and develop this ensemble over the past few years, and I am excited about continuing to make music with this wonderful organization.
I also want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for all who continue to support the Sacramento Symphonic Winds, both with donations and attendance at our concerts. We could not maintain our operations as we do without your patronage.
We are thrilled to begin Season 24 with a program titled “Pages from a Traveler’s Notebook.” Please join me, and our 60-member ensemble, as we endeavor to musically transport you to exotic places around the world at our first concert on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 2:30pm in Capistrano Hall at Sacramento State.
Sincerely,
Dr. Matthew Morse
Music and Artistic Director
Pack Your Bags: Our 2026 Season Premiere Travels the World! ✈️🎶
“Not all those who wander are lost…”
Join us on Sunday, October 18, at 2:30 PM for Pages from a Traveler’s Notebook. Hosted at Sacramento State’s Capistrano Hall, this performance is your musical passport to incredible global destinations.
Experience the brilliant centerpiece of our concert, Julie Giroux’s Symphony No. 4: Bookmarks from Japan, alongside the iconic themes of The Mandalorian, the sun-drenched rhythms of Havana Nights, and the wind band classic Variations on a Korean Folk Song.
🎟️ Tickets: $15 General Admission / $10 Students / FREE for 8th grade and below.
Planning for the Future!
Part of the SSW Board of Directors and some of our leadership team gathered together for several hours this summer in a true meeting of the minds to brainstorm ideas for improving efficiency and communication. We also discussed plans for our 24th and 25th seasons, promising exciting experiences ahead!
Welcome, New Members!
Every year we have some change in membership. Over the last several seasons, a number of our long time members have retired from SSW or from playing music altogether for a variety of reasons. This year is no different. As life evolves, members step away due to family, health, or career. We appreciate their contributions and wish them every success. This gives us the opportunity to welcome new members into our community!
This season you will see a few new faces on the stage. Welcome, Paul Cummings (clarinet), Evan French (percussion), Tyler Golding (percussion), Robert Halseth (bass trombone), Roberta Huff (flute), Emma Keisler (clarinet), and Christian Orr (french horn). Welcome back Jordyn Bonilla (trumpet) and Ian Perkins-Taylor (percussion)!
Become a Donor or Sponsor
Are you interested in becoming a Donor or Sponsor for the 2026-2027 season?
SSW relies on the generous support of our patrons and business sponsors to provide quality music performances and educational outreach programs. Tax-deductible donations are used to offset annual operating costs, including rental of rehearsal and performance venues, music and equipment purchases, performance recordings, and guest artists and soloists.
Donors are acknowledged in all SSW concert programs and in our newsletter. We provide a letter for your records for tax deduction purposes. We appreciate your generous donations!
Business sponsors are acknowledged in our programs, on our website and social media, and in our newsletter. Your logo or ad will appear in a minimum of 10 placements, resulting in hundreds of views for businesses that initiate sponsorships prior to the first concert. For more information or to set up your sponsorship, email sponsors@sacwinds.org.
Thank You to Our 2026–27 Season Sponsors
Keep live music thriving in your community!
Dates to Remember
Season Concerts
- October 18, 2026 – CSUS, Capistrano Hall
- December 20, 2026 – Natomas Charter School
- March 2027 (TBA) – CSUS, Capistrano Hall
- May 2027 (TBA) – CSUS, Capistrano Hall
Collaboration Event: December 1, 2026 – Natomas Charter School
Carmichael Park Community Band Festival: June 5–6, 2027
In Loving Memory
Our founder, mentor, and friend, Dr. Lester Lehr, passed away on April 10, 2026. Dr. Lehr was a true visionary who established this community ensemble, among others. At the conclusion of the last season, we received numerous generous donations in memory of Dr. Lehr.
Donations made in memory of Les Lehr by:
Alan & Barbara Barnes, John Doolittle, W. Edward Harper, Jean Kwong, Beverly L. Lorens, Claudia Richardson, Thomas Roehr, Dan & Irene Warschauer, and Patricia Yessen.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
Gustave Flaubert
Mission Statement
The Sacramento Symphonic Winds (SSW) is a symphonic wind ensemble or “wind orchestra” that performs a wide range of music from classic and contemporary wind band masterpieces to popular music. Our twofold mission is to provide quality musical performances for audiences in the greater Sacramento community and to offer local musicians a challenging and rewarding musical experience in an encouraging environment. We celebrate the role of community bands and wind ensembles in the musical and cultural life of America. Dr. Lester Lehr founded SSW in 2002.
2026–2027 Board of Directors
Kari Zimny – President
Noah Flores – Vice President
Jo Ann Daley – Treasurer
Carrie Moore – Secretary
Matthew Morse – Music/Artistic Director
Members at Large: Barbara Alves, Delores Henson, Mark MacRae, Karen Niiya, Susan Sullivan
Sacramento Symphonic Winds — PO Box 1503, Carmichael, CA 95609
SSW is an all volunteer adult community concert band / wind ensemble based in the greater Sacramento area.