Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band at California Baptist University. Under the direction of Dr. Brent Levine, the Wind Ensemble performs original and transcribed works from the standard repertoire, inspiring sacred pieces, marches, film music, and newly commissioned works from composers such as David Holsinger, Andrew Boysen, Mark Camphouse, James Stephenson, and Adam Gorb.
The Wind Ensemble consists of approximately 50 members (winds, brass, and percussion) including music majors and other talented musicians who are selected by audition in the fall. Their performance schedule includes annual fall, winter, and spring concerts, the CBU Christmas event, shared concerts with local high school bands, and bi-annual concert tours.
To schedule an audition, please visit our Next Steps page, contact the CBU School of Performing Arts office by phone at 951-343-4251, or email us at performingarts@calbaptist.edu.
Dr. Brent Levine
Director of Bands
Brent Levine is Director of Bands at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, as well as teaches classes in advanced conducting and secondary music education methods. He also oversees graduate students studying wind band in the MM Instrumental Conducting Program.
Prior to his appointment at CBU, Dr. Levine was Associate Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, where he conducted the Symphonic Band, directed the Lumberjack Marching Band and Jacks Pep Band, and taught courses in conducting and music education. His collaborative projects at NAU included a musical partnership with the Native American Cultural Center, an exploration into the Orpheus style of rehearsing and performing, directing a full faculty production of Stravinsky’s “Histoire du Soldat,” the formation of the “Banda Latina Caribeña de Flagstaff,” and frequent shared concerts with local high schools. In addition to his duties at NAU, Dr. Levine previously served as the Artistic Director for the Flagstaff Community Band.
His current published research centers around the music of composers Adolphus Hailstork and Edward Kennedy ("Duke") Ellington. Recently, he authored a chapter on Ellington in Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Volume III.
Prior to beginning his position at NAU in 2021, his previous collegiate experience included teaching conducting at the Capital University Conservatory of Music (OH), as well as co-directing the concert band and teaching applied saxophone at Riverside City College (CA).
From 2010-2018, Dr. Levine worked as a band director at Vista Murrieta High School (CA), where he conducted multiple wind ensembles, directed the jazz program, taught AP music theory, and co-directed the marching band. During his tenure, the marching band was a two-time Marching Band Open Series Champion, a consistent Bands of America Regional Finalist, and placed 14th at the 2016 Bands of America Grand National Championships.
Dr. Levine holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Redlands, where he studied with Dr. Eddie Smith. Dr. Levine also holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The Ohio State University, where he was a student of Dr. Russel Mikkelson.