MBI Winds is set to kick the 2025 season off on Saturday, November 2nd from 9a-3p in Dinkytown. We still have openings in most sections, so we encourage interested members to register today!
As is part of the Minnesota Brass tradition, MBI Winds is an independent group and is open to all ages. If you have marching experience and play any of these instruments, we want to hear from you!
Read MoreThe season kicked off with a bang at the Premiere show when MBI performers came onto the floor veiled in yellow raincoats. They took them off to reveal a full Pennywise costume from IT. The theme was hugely popular, and the guard produced a “Who is IT?” post to showcase performers who you wouldn’t otherwise recognize in their costumes & makeup. MBI Winter Guard finished 19th in Independent Open at Dayton, Ohio.
Celebrating its 15th year in 2023, MBI Indoor Percussion competed both locally and nationally. The season culminated with MBI being a WGI Semi-Finalist in Dayton, OH and placing 17th in Percussion Independent World (PIW) competition – MBI’s highest placement in a decade. The 2023 production was titled “Fade to Black” and featured the ensemble fading in and out of both visual and musical textures ending as the members literally fading away and disappearing into the all-black set pieces. “Hang my head, drown my fear, til they all just disappear.” This lyrics were heard in the last moments of the show as MBI played “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden.
“Hello!” was the perfect introduction for the debut of our new WGI Winds ensemble. 20 talented horn players came together to create a vibrant program that entertained audiences. The initial season definitely opened new doors for the growing WGI Winds class, especially at home in Minnesota. MBI Winds finished in 4th place in Independent Open in Dayton, Ohio.
Thanks again to all who donated to our winter ensembles. Minnesota Brass is committed to providing a quality performance experience to our members while trying to reduce costs as much as possible. We couldn’t do it without you!
The MBI Winter Guard wrapped up their 2016 season with a stellar performance at the WGI Independent A Class World Championships in Dayton, Ohio Saturday placing 10th with a final score of 87.615. Competition began Thursday with 70 units. “I’m so very proud of what the guard accomplished this year,” said Minnesota Brass executive director Eric Molho. “The members and staff had a phenomenal season and earned a great honor as a top-ten finalist in national competition.” Other Minnesota finalists at WGI competition included Elk River High School (5th place in Scholastic A Class competition) and Eden Prairie High School (19th place in Scholastic Open Class competition).
Auditions for the Minnesota Brass drum and bugle corps color guard are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, April 20 at Brooklyn Center High School See our Quick Guide for more information.
“It was an absolutely stellar performance” said MBI Winter Guard co-director, Wil Furnstahl about the guard’s semi-final execution at Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio on Friday afternoon. The guard was seeded 16th after their preliminary performance in WGI Independent A Class competition. Their semi-finals score of 88.15 compelled the corps to the number 9 position as they head into finals on Saturday morning. The MBI Winter Guard will take the floor at 10:38 EST for finals. 70 units began competition on Thursday to determine the twenty finalists that will compete at Finals.
This year the MBI Winter Guard explores our obsession with technology and personal devices. Their 2016 production, Auto-Correcting Society, challenges viewers to put down their phones and reconnect IRL (in real life). Fans and friends may still want to grab their phones to see the guard’s latest updates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In addition, live video will broadcoast throughout the morning using the periscope app (follow: minnesotabrass).
MBI Winter Guard is one of six North Star Circuit units competing this weekend in Dayton at the WGI Color Guard World Championships. Lux Independent, Eclipse Independent, Elk River HS, Irondale HS and Eden Prairie HS also participated in preliminary competition Thursday with Elk River and Eden Prairie advancing to semi-finals. As this article was published, Elk River had also advanced to finals and will perform at 3:07 p.m. (EST) Saturday. (Eden Prairie’s results will be known late on Friday evening.)
We get the irony. We really want you to tune into your smart phones today to watch our incredible show lamenting how our online society can reduce human interaction. MBI Winter Guard’s 2016 production, Auto-Correcting Society takes the floor at the WGI St. Louis Regional this afternoon and will be on your phone live!
Here’s how it works. We’ll be using Periscope this afternoon and evening to broadcast the MBI Winter Guard’s performance. Periscope is a Twitter product, so you’ll need to make sure you’re following us there (if you haven’t already). Next, download the free Periscope app if you don’t already have it on your phone. Once you sign in via Twitter, it will automatically let you know when we’re streaming live from St. Louis! The Winter Guard’s prelims performance is scheduled for 3:106p.m. CST. Finals competitions for Independent A Class begin at 8:44. As an added bonus, Periscope videos stick around for 24 hours post-performance, so you can watch again, and again.
Then put your phone away and connect with someone IRL.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
