CWU Wind Ensemble selected to perform at 2026 regional conference

The Central Washington University Wind Ensemble added another feather to its cap this summer by being selected to perform at the 2026 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Western/Northwestern Division Conference.

CWU is one of seven collegiate wind ensembles selected through a blind review process to present a featured performance at the March 18-21 event at the University of Nevada, Reno. CWU's performance is scheduled for March 19.

Being selected to perform at the CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference places CWU among the leading university ensembles from Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, and Wyoming.

Next spring’s performance marks the third invitation to a major conference in the past six years for the CWU Wind Ensemble. The ensemble, directed by Director of Bands Dr. T. André Feagin, previously performed at the 2022 CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference and was featured at the 20th World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference in Gwangju, South Korea, in 2024.

“I am honored by this recognition and incredibly proud of our students,” Feagin said. “Their dedication and artistry continue to elevate our program and inspire those around them. Opportunities like this don’t happen alone. It truly takes a village.”

Founded in 1941, the College Band Directors National Association is an organization dedicated to the teaching, performance, study, and cultivation of music, with a focus on the wind band medium. CBDNA members include university, college, and conservatory band directors from across the United States and beyond. The organization serves as a leading voice in the development of wind music, providing a platform for professional collaboration, scholarship, and the advancement of the art form.

Feagin expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in the CWU Department of Music for helping build a “legacy of musical leadership that built the foundation we stand on.”

“I remain fully committed to our growth, our musicianship, and the tradition of musical and professional excellence that defines this band program,” he said.

If you would like to learn more about the CWU Wind Ensemble or the invitation to the 2026 CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference, please email TAndre.Feagin@cwu.edu or call 509-963-1916.