William & Mary Wind Ensemble performs at prestigious conference

Music had been an important part of Krista Gregg’s ‘27 life since elementary school when she first picked up the clarinet. But when Gregg came to William & Mary, she wasn’t just looking for a place to play; she was searching for a community to call her own. She felt right at home when she joined W&M’s close-knit music program — first as a member of the Symphony Orchestra and later the Wind Ensemble.

“I've just had a super great sense of community. I came in as a sophomore and I was immediately welcomed there. I always feel really appreciated in that space,” Gregg said.

By College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) standards, W&M’s band program is considered small, with most of its members non-music majors who are currently not taking private lessons. However, Gregg is part of the growing number of students joining W&M’s music program since the opening of the new Music Arts Center in the fall of 2023.

“It's really been nice to see how much the music program has grown in just my short time here. We started my freshman year with a brand new building, and I think that's given us a lot of space to grow.” Gregg said.

The number of declared majors in the music department increased by 90% from 2022 to 2025. There are currently 55 declared music majors and 17 students with a minor, according to Richard Marcus, associate professor of music, director of the bands and department chair.

“We have this beautiful new building. When we moved in, we had campus tours coming through our building all the time which helped to raise our profile and attract new students to the department,” Marcus said.

As the small music program has grown, so has its stature in the college music community. In March, the W&M Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious CBDNA Eastern Division Conference at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Although W&M is part of CBDNA’s Southern Division, the Eastern Division issued a call for “small band” programs which caught Marcus’s attention.  After submitting the required recordings, the W&M Wind Ensemble was one of a few groups selected to perform, making them the first ensemble from the university to participate in a regional music conference.

After a 12-hour bus ride to Massachusetts, the band arrived at CBDNA on March 20. The opportunity was daunting to both the students and Marcus: “A lot of times when we give performances, most of the people in the audience are family and friends and we appreciate their support very much. But to perform in front of an audience that's really listening and evaluating what we're doing at every moment, it can be intimidating,” Marcus said.

The ensemble shared the stage with bands from universities with large music departments, or even schools of music, and performing among them was an honor to Marcus and his students. “The performance itself was a really special time for us, just to be in this really big venue to be able to spread our music to people who wouldn't have seen us otherwise,” Gregg said.

Marcus also attributes the strength of W&M’s music program to its accomplished faculty, many of whom are principal players in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra or Richmond Symphony Orchestra. The program has also strengthened its music technology offerings, with the new Vlahakis Recording Studio, and additional classes in computer music and sound design areas.  These initiatives were sponsored by the generosity of Nick and Kimi Vlahakis, who expanded music technology funding for the music department this year.

“The music department is fast emerging as one of the signature departments of the College of Arts & Sciences,” said Rich Lowry, vice dean of arts, humanities and interdisciplinary programs. “They of course offer a strong curriculum for majors. But their individual lessons, ensembles, a sophisticated recording studio and performance venues are there for any W&M student to take advantage of. This is what the liberal arts are all about.”

After a weekend together, the ensemble returned to campus with boosted confidence and a greater bond. “The group has just grown stronger and stronger, and I was very, very proud of their performance at CBDNA,” Marcus said.

The Wind Ensemble held their final concert of the semester on Monday, April 20, which included several pieces performed at the CBDNA conference.