Who We Are
The West Valley Wind Ensemble was originally formed by Karen Moeck’s father. Karen is an active member of the french horn section in the West Valley Wind Ensemble today. In 2015, Karen sought out the director, Clark Chaffee, to help rebuild the program. The mission she passed on from her father was to keep the American band repertoire and traditions alive and well in the community.
At that time, the band had about 200 works of music in its library. Many of those selections were nearly 100 years old and represented much of the classic concert band repertoire. Since then, the West Valley Wind Ensemble has been performing works from that collection, as well as investing in newer pieces from the same tradition.
Our Mission
The mission of the West Valley Wind Ensemble is to provide entertainment through an outstanding performance group, consisting of local musicians, in which the community and band members can take pride. Through the procurement and performance of a vast array of concert band literature, the West Valley Wind Ensemble hopes to stimulate continued interest and participation in live music performance throughout the Surprise community and the entire West Valley. The ensemble’s vision is to enrich the lives of its members and community through music performance, music education, and charity work, while also promoting the concept of community bands by supporting, encouraging, and assisting other small groups in their musical endeavors.