Minnesota Winds in Austin

Austin High School's music program includes three bands, three orchestras, and three choirs that learn and rehearse during the school day, and a host of extracurricular student ensembles. Students have opportunities for lessons and sectionals with staff from MacPhail Center for Music—Austin, which is located in the same building as the music classrooms. Wind Ensemble is Austin's top auditioned band, consisting of 38 motivated 10th-12th grade student musicians. The students perform in four concerts per year, prepare solos and small ensembles, perform marching and pep band music, and are featured at the Big 9 Music Festival and at other events throughout the community. More than half of the students in Wind Ensemble perform on school-owned instruments provided through generous grants from the Hormel Foundation. The Austin High School Wind Ensemble is conducted by 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Finalist Christoph Dundas.

The community of Austin has a rich history of supporting music for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Austin is home to the oldest Community Symphony Orchestra and a long pedigree of educators known throughout the state for excellence in teaching. Our Austin musicians can be found performing all over the country and in every corner of our community with multiple performances by local artists each week.

Austin's deep appreciation for the performing arts led to a partnership with MacPhail Center for Music in 2015. Together we formed a community music hub in our new facility inside the historic Austin High School. Deeply invested in the Austin Public School Music Program, MacPhail comes alongside their students K-12 and creates pathways for their musicians to continue post high school. We connect with 1,500 students weekly through partnerships, group classes, and individual instruction.