The Arrowhead High School Wind Ensemble is comprised of the most advanced wind and percussion students in Arrowhead’s Instrumental Music Program. Many members take private lessons and participate in outside music ensembles such as the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Youth Wind and Jazz Ensembles, and other organizations around the country. This ensemble continues a rich tradition of commissioning new works. The wind ensemble has premiered works by Michael Markowski, Carl Holmquist, John Mackey, James Grant, Clint Needham, and Keane Southard, among others. In January 2011, 2016, and 2020 the Arrowhead Wind Ensemble performed at the National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter convention and in October 2014, the group performed at the Wisconsin State Music Conference.
AHS Wind Ensemble commission/consortium projects:
Instinctive Travels by Michael Markowski (Winter 2009)
To You by Carl Holmquist (Spring 2011)
High Wire by John Mackey (Spring 2012)
So Many Tomorrows by Clint Needham (Spring 2013)
Tribute: To Those Who Serve by James Grant (Spring 2014)
Uma Passachalha Brasileira by Keane Southard (Spring 2015)
Addison Red Line by Jeremy Bell (Fall 2015)
Dreamcasting by Adam Berndt (2017 - Wind Symphony)
Nothing to Fear, Nothing to Doubt... by Jess Turner (2017)
At Her Ladyship's Request by Carter Pann (2017)
Summerscapes by Carl Holmquist (2018)
Think About It by Jennifer Jolley (2018) - ASPIRE Commission Consortium
Three Miniatures by William Bolcom (2019) - ASPIRE Commission Consortium
An Uneasy March by Donald Grantham (2019) - ASPIRE Commission Consortium
The Last Hive Mind II by Shuying LI (2020)
2020/21 Early Spring Repertoire
The Last Hive Mind II - Shuying Li
Variations on a Korean Folk Song - John Barnes Chance
Music From Mission: Impossible - arr. Jay Bocook
British Eighth March - Zo Elliot
2020/21 Semester I Repertoire
Sheltering Sky - John Mackey
Bayou Breakdown - Brant Karrick
Second Suite in F - Gustav Holst
Vesuvius (flex) - Frank Ticheli
Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
Pursuit - J. Scott McKenzie
2020 Spring Concert Repertoire
Famishius Fantasticus - Michael Markowski
Hounds of Spring - Alfred Reed
The Red Machine - Peter Graham
Soul Divine - Peter Meecham
Dance of the Jesters - Tchaikovsky/Cramer
2020 Winter Concert Repertoire
Until the Scars - John Mackey
Symphony on Themes...Sousa "Thunderer" - Ira Hearshen
Star Wars Epic I/II - Williams/Smith
Circus Bee March - Fillmore/Schissel
2019/2020 Holiday/NBA Concert Repertoire
Until the Scars - John Mackey
Illumination - David Maslanka
Greensleeves - Alfred Reed
In My Perfect Place - Leslie Gilreath
Patapan - Elliot Del Borgo
Bookmarks From Japan - Julie Giroux
Circus Bee March - Fillmore/Schissel