Ensemble History
2014 Prairie Wind Ensemble plays a joint concert with the Rockford Wind Ensemble in DeKalb, IL.
2013 Prairie Wind Ensemble plays a joint concert with the Rockford Wind Ensemble in Dunlap.
2011 Dr. Joseph Manfredo is named the newest Conductor of the PWE.
John Bell from SIU-E, serves as temporary conductor of the PWE for the May concert which also featured the River Valley Brass Quintet.
In addition to a performance at ICC, the PWE performs a joint concert with the WIU Wind Symphony in Macomb, IL. Joe Roman and Carl Anderson conduct this third concert cycle; Carl Anderson and his New Orleans Jazz Band are featured artists for the March concert.
2010 After 7 years on the podium, Robert Sheldon stepped down as conductor of the Prairie Wind Ensemble, conducting his final concert in December.
For the third time, the PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Young Composers/Young Conductors Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
2008 PWE performs as part of a clinic presented by conductor Robert Sheldon at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention.
PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL and performs works of Andrew Boyson, Mark Camphouse, and Robert Sheldon with the composers conducting.
30th Anniversary Concert.
2007 Performance at Illinois Music Educators Association State Conference, Peoria, IL
Conductor/Composer Stephen Reineke conducts PWE in concert
2006 PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL and performs works of Julie Giroux, Mark Camphouse and James Curnow with the composers conducting.
2004 Guest Conductors are selected for each concert from the PWE membership.
2003 Robert Sheldon is named conductor for the Prairie Wind Ensemble.
2002 Conductor and Founder Donald Lewellen retires.
2001 Dedication Concert for the Patricia Hackler Auditorium, Pekin, Illinois.
1999 December 9, 1999, the 100th soloist appeared with the Prairie Wind Ensemble.
1998 20th Anniversary Concert.
1997 IMEA-MENC "Showcase Concert" with the Dallas Brass.
1996 Youth Missions Benefit concert (St. Paul's Cathedral, Peoria).
1995 Established Annual High School Invitational Band Competition.
Concert (St. Paul's Cathedral, Peoria).
1994 Concert (National Trumpet Competition) George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
1993 Concert (Farmington High School)
Amateur Music Club Concert (Bradley University).
1992 Clinic/Concert (Brimfield High School).
1991Joint concert (Illinois Valley Central High School, Chillicothe).
European Tour-concerts in Wolfsburg, Berlin, Nerviano, Besana Brianza, and Friedrichshafen.
1990J oint concert (Morton High School).
1989 St. Mary's Cathedral Concert Series (Peoria).
1988 Joint concert (Woodruff High School, Peoria).
Concert broadcasts resume on Public Radio (WCBU).
1987 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference concert (Peoria).
Joint concert (Dunlap).
Bicentennial Constitution Celebration Concert (Peoria).
Clinic/Concert (Washington, IL City Schools).
1986 Joint Concert (Princeville).
Forest Park Nature Center concert.
150th Anniversary concert - First Methodist Church (Wyoming, IL).
1985 Joint concert (Henry).
Benefit concert for Crimestoppers.
Bonus concert - ICC Subscription Series.
Established a season concert series.
1984 Benefit concert for Crimestoppers.
Bonus concert - ICC Subscription Series.
1983 Joint concert with the Peoria Civic Ballet.
Arts Week in the Mall concert - sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council and the Peoria Area Arts and Science Council.
Walnut Grove Fine Arts Association concert (Eureka).
Scottish Rite Cathedral.
1982 Established the annual student Soloist competition.
Two concerts broadcast on Public Radio (WCBU).
Scottish Rite Cathedral concert.
Christmas Concert at Northwoods Mall.
1981 CICB name changed to Prairie Wind Ensemble.
Concerts held at Illinois Valley Central, Illini Bluffs, and Beverly Manor Schools.
Christmas Concert at Northwoods Mall.
1980 Lincoln Christian College concert.
1979 First performance at area college (Monmouth College).
1978 Premiere performance given on February 16 at ICC Performing Arts Center.
First performance at area high school (Chillicothe).
1977 Central Illinois Concert Band organized in association with Illinois Central College.
2013 Prairie Wind Ensemble plays a joint concert with the Rockford Wind Ensemble in Dunlap.
2011 Dr. Joseph Manfredo is named the newest Conductor of the PWE.
John Bell from SIU-E, serves as temporary conductor of the PWE for the May concert which also featured the River Valley Brass Quintet.
In addition to a performance at ICC, the PWE performs a joint concert with the WIU Wind Symphony in Macomb, IL. Joe Roman and Carl Anderson conduct this third concert cycle; Carl Anderson and his New Orleans Jazz Band are featured artists for the March concert.
2010 After 7 years on the podium, Robert Sheldon stepped down as conductor of the Prairie Wind Ensemble, conducting his final concert in December.
For the third time, the PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Young Composers/Young Conductors Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
2008 PWE performs as part of a clinic presented by conductor Robert Sheldon at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention.
PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL and performs works of Andrew Boyson, Mark Camphouse, and Robert Sheldon with the composers conducting.
30th Anniversary Concert.
2007 Performance at Illinois Music Educators Association State Conference, Peoria, IL
Conductor/Composer Stephen Reineke conducts PWE in concert
2006 PWE is the featured ensemble for National Band Assocation Summer Symposium at Illinois State University, Normal, IL and performs works of Julie Giroux, Mark Camphouse and James Curnow with the composers conducting.
2004 Guest Conductors are selected for each concert from the PWE membership.
2003 Robert Sheldon is named conductor for the Prairie Wind Ensemble.
2002 Conductor and Founder Donald Lewellen retires.
2001 Dedication Concert for the Patricia Hackler Auditorium, Pekin, Illinois.
1999 December 9, 1999, the 100th soloist appeared with the Prairie Wind Ensemble.
1998 20th Anniversary Concert.
1997 IMEA-MENC "Showcase Concert" with the Dallas Brass.
1996 Youth Missions Benefit concert (St. Paul's Cathedral, Peoria).
1995 Established Annual High School Invitational Band Competition.
Concert (St. Paul's Cathedral, Peoria).
1994 Concert (National Trumpet Competition) George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
1993 Concert (Farmington High School)
Amateur Music Club Concert (Bradley University).
1992 Clinic/Concert (Brimfield High School).
1991Joint concert (Illinois Valley Central High School, Chillicothe).
European Tour-concerts in Wolfsburg, Berlin, Nerviano, Besana Brianza, and Friedrichshafen.
1990J oint concert (Morton High School).
1989 St. Mary's Cathedral Concert Series (Peoria).
1988 Joint concert (Woodruff High School, Peoria).
Concert broadcasts resume on Public Radio (WCBU).
1987 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference concert (Peoria).
Joint concert (Dunlap).
Bicentennial Constitution Celebration Concert (Peoria).
Clinic/Concert (Washington, IL City Schools).
1986 Joint Concert (Princeville).
Forest Park Nature Center concert.
150th Anniversary concert - First Methodist Church (Wyoming, IL).
1985 Joint concert (Henry).
Benefit concert for Crimestoppers.
Bonus concert - ICC Subscription Series.
Established a season concert series.
1984 Benefit concert for Crimestoppers.
Bonus concert - ICC Subscription Series.
1983 Joint concert with the Peoria Civic Ballet.
Arts Week in the Mall concert - sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council and the Peoria Area Arts and Science Council.
Walnut Grove Fine Arts Association concert (Eureka).
Scottish Rite Cathedral.
1982 Established the annual student Soloist competition.
Two concerts broadcast on Public Radio (WCBU).
Scottish Rite Cathedral concert.
Christmas Concert at Northwoods Mall.
1981 CICB name changed to Prairie Wind Ensemble.
Concerts held at Illinois Valley Central, Illini Bluffs, and Beverly Manor Schools.
Christmas Concert at Northwoods Mall.
1980 Lincoln Christian College concert.
1979 First performance at area college (Monmouth College).
1978 Premiere performance given on February 16 at ICC Performing Arts Center.
First performance at area high school (Chillicothe).
1977 Central Illinois Concert Band organized in association with Illinois Central College.