Herndon Regional Wind Ensemble (HRWE) is a community band made up of young-adult and adult musicians from across Northern Virginia. The ensemble consists of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, and often features other instruments, such as piano, harp and string bass. Led by founder and Music Director Dr. Lawrence Walker, the ensemble is active for ten months of each year, coinciding with the school year. During that time, the ensemble meets on Tuesday evenings to rehearse in preparation for public performances. As of 2025, our members range in age from 16 to 88! Some of our members have been with the group since its inception in 2014, and others have joined more recently. New members are welcomed throughout the year. Rehearsals and concerts are typically held at schools in Fairfax County. HRWE presents two or more free public concerts each year. In lieu of tickets, we often encourage donations to charities such as Toys for Tots or a local food pantry. The Holiday Concert and Sing-Along is an annual tradition for many area families, and annual Spring Concert features a wide range of musical genres. The band’s repertoire includes classic concert band music, military marches, orchestral transcriptions, Broadway and movie melodies, jazz, Dixieland and popular music. An emcee shares background information on each musical selection to educate and enhance audience enjoyment. In addition to hosting concerts for our neighbors, HRWE proudly represents our region at community band festivals. HRWE is regularly featured at the National Community Band Festival held at George Mason University and the Prince William Community Band Festival held at Harris Pavilion in Manassas.
