Our Story

The Twin Ports Wind Orchestra was founded as the Twin Ports Wind Ensemble in the spring of 1990 by Dr. Timothy Mahr, former Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota, Duluth and current Director of Bands at St. Olaf College. The group changed its name to the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra (TPWO) in the Fall of 2005.

TPWO is a non-profit instrumental music organization comprised of the finest adult wind and percussion players in the greater Duluth/Superior region and is an outreach program of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Music Department.

Most of the musicians have played their instrument for well over twenty years, and many make a living through professional performance or as music educators. The other musicians represent a variety of people from other professions. The members have sought out an opportunity to actively participate in a musical group to maintain and challenge their skills and to give them an outlet for their love of artistic expression through music. The ensemble provides its members with the opportunity to grow in their abilities through the quality, intensity and difficulty of the musical repertoire and the superb direction of Dr. Mark Whitlock.

TPWO not only provides the musicians the opportunity to grow artistically, but also provides the public with an unequalled musical experience. The ensemble performs symphonic band literature ranging from marches to show tunes to classical and contemporary pieces for winds created by renown composers. Our Meet the Conductor Series provide a chance for the audience to talk with the conductor about the particular pieces they will hear as well as give a historical context to the time in which they were written.  It is also a chance to meet with our guest artists and composers.  Every concert educates and delights the audience.

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