ABOUT US

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The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble

Music Directors and Conductors

        Edward Belin

        Chris Lynn

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The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble was formed in 1986 to provide an outlet for adult musicians to express their
musical talent and also to provide live concert band music to the surrounding community.  The group currently
consists of nearly sixty musicians ranging in age from late teens to retirees.  Although some members are
current or former music educators, most others are from fields such as health care, education, aviation, banking,
and civil service.  They represent a well-rounded community group.  The group is proud to say that the current
season of 2023 – 2024 is their 37th season.
At the present time, the group has two conductors leading the ensemble through six formal concerts each
season.  Edward Belin took on the responsibility of Associate Conductor in April of 2001, and became the
Music Director and Conductor in September of 2002.  He began teaching for the Hornell City School District in
the fall of 1994 as the Senior High Band Director.  In that position he was the Director of the Senior High
Symphonic Band, the Jazz Ensemble, and Co-Director of the Marching Red Raiders, a competitive marching
band. In June of 2022, he retired from teaching. The band is fortunate to have Mr. Belin occasionally on the podium as well as in the percussion section for the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble.
Chris Lynn shares the conducting duties of the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble.  He first joined as a playing,
member in the trumpet and horn sections in the autumn of 2001.  In February of 2011, he became an Associate
Conductor and in February of 2013, he became Co-Conductor.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Music
Composition from SUNY Geneseo followed with a Master Degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY
Potsdam. Currently he is a music educator at Wayland-Cohocton Central School. His music interests keep him
busy as a member of the Sterling Brass Quintet, the Southern Tier All Star Jazz Band, as well composing. Chris
also works and volunteers part time at the Genesee Country Village and Museum. 
The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble’s concert season runs from September through early June of each year.  Its
repertoire consists of a wide variety of music ranging from transcriptions of standard classical pieces, traditional
concert band pieces, music from the stage, as well as a broad range of marches and contemporary literature
written for concert bands.  Five of the six concerts are in the formal setting in the auditorium of the Hornell
High School. The ensemble performs two out-door concerts held in June on the Broadway Mall in Hornell and
at the Pavilion on Loon Lake.  All of the concerts are free and open to the public.
In the year 2000, the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble began a tradition of performing a concert on the Saturday of
Memorial Day weekend to honor the United States veterans that gave their ultimate sacrifice for their country,
as well as honoring veterans past and present.  Current and former conductors from the premier United States
service bands have always been invited to conduct this concert.  As well as the guest conductors, soloists for
this concert has included active and retired members from the service bands.  Each and every branch of service
has been represented.
In the early spring of each concert season, the band provides opportunity for two finalists of a January audition
to participate in the Young Artist Concert.  Each youth is given the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the
ensemble.  This concert focuses attention on music being a part in a young person’s life, and throughout, as it is
and has been with the adult performers in the band. The musicians in the band believe that Music is for Life.
The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble is an organizational member of the Association of Concert Bands.  The band
maintains compliance with United States Copyright Law through its performance licensing agreements with
ASCAP and BMI.  The ensemble was selected to perform at two ACB national conventions.  The first in 1990
in Rochester, NY and, again, in 2008 in Corning, NY.  A number of musicians in the group are members of
Association of Concert Bands, including the band’s current president who served at one time as the President of
the Association of Concert Bands.

The band has also participated in concert with the Hornell High School bands for their Veterans’ Day concerts,
performed at the Vietnam Veteran’s Moving Wall, performed at Flag Day ceremonies in Mount Morris, NY,
performed in a mass band performance in Painted Post, NY, and performed a concert at the David A. Howe
Library in Wellsville, NY.

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The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble maintains compliance with United States Copyright Law through its performance licensing agreements with ASCAP and BMI.

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 Band photo, taken by Syrena Carver

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