About the OKC Winds
The Oklahoma City Winds is a symphonic wind band made primarily of musicians who are also band/orchestra directors, retired teachers, private instructors, and pre-service music teachers from the OKC metro area.
The band is under the direction of retired music educator, Mike Lowery. The summer of 2022 marked the ensemble’s inaugural season with one performance each in June and July. The ensemble was started to create an opportunity for busy local music educators to come together and perform quality band literature for the community and for their own personal enjoyment!
Mike Lowery | Conductor
Mike Lowery taught public school for 41 years. 33 years were served in Oklahoma following eight years in Missouri. Lowery was Director of Bands at Edmond Memorial and Santa Fe High School in Edmond, OK, as well as the Instrumental Music Coordinator for Edmond Public Schools. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the U.S., London, and Paris.
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Mike was honored to be on staff with the Stan Kenton Jazz Orchestra in Residence for seven years. He served as long-time Executive Secretary for the Central Oklahoma Directors Association (CODA). Lowery was named the Oklahoma and Section 6 Outstanding Music Educator in 2003 by the National Federation of High Schools, the Santa Fe High School Teacher of the Year in 2008, and received the 2014 OkMEA Exemplary Teacher Award. Lowery was inducted into the OkMEA Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Oklahoma Bandmasters (OBA) Hall of Fame in 2019. Lowery's bands were named "Outstanding" at festivals in Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, New Orleans, Nashville, and San Antonio. The Santa Fe Band traveled five times to London, once to Paris, and once to Rome for their respective New Year's Day Parades. The Santa Fe Band was also selected as an OkMEA Honor Band on five occasions.
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Lowery presently serves in a number of selective positions. He is a senior consultant for the London New Year's Day Parade and Youth Music of the World. Lowery is the Contest Director for the OBA and is the conductor of the band director-driven OKC Winds