30 Years of the Bardi Wind Orchestra

Latest from the Bardi Wind Orchestra


The Bardi Wind Orchestra has been making amazing music for 30 years!

The Orchestra was founded by Robert and David Calow from the extended wind, brass and percussion of the Bardi Symphony Orchestra in 1992 and the first concert took place at Holy Trinity Church, Regent Road, Leicester with Martin Slipp conducting. The first concerts saw original repertoire for ‘symphonic winds’ being performed, with works by Holst, Grainger, Vaughan Williams, Ives, Milhaud, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Hindemith. David Calow took over as Music Director and Conductor for the third season and introduced the lighter side of the band repertoire with light classical pieces, music from shows, movies, and TV themes alongside the original works. 

The Bardi Wind Orchestra now has an enviable reputation as one of the finest wind ensembles of its kind in the Midlands. The Wind Orchestra performances are now much anticipated events, drawing large audiences to the high-profile Charity Gala Concerts at De Montfort Hall, Christmas Festival Concerts at Holy Trinity Church on Regent Road and the sell-out Bradgate Park and Hinckley Proms concerts. Players from the Orchestra also perform in smaller groups at prestigious fundraising events and concerts around the city and county. 

The Bardi Wind Orchestra are most proud of their charity work, having raised thousands of pounds for both local and national organisations such as: Rainbows Children’s Hospice; LOROS; HOPE Against Cancer; Help for Heroes; ABF The Soldier’s Charity; Leicester Children’s Holiday Centre in Mablethope; Wishes 4 Kids; Menphys; MNDA Leicestershire and Rutland Branch; East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre; and most recently the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, in association with their long-time fundraising partners, the Oadby & Wigston Lions Club.

The Bardi Wind Orchestra celebrated the Late HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a summer of special concerts, at De Montfort Hall and Hollycroft Park, Hinckley. 

The Bardi Wind Orchestra looks forward to another 30 years of excellent music, dedicated charity work and delighting audiences across the Midlands! 

Since 2004 the Bardi Wind Orchestra has supported:
Rainbows Hospice (2004, 2005, 2010) / Lord Mayor’s Kidney Care Appeal (and 100 years of the Leicester General Hospital 2005) / LOROS (2006, 2008) / HOPE Against Cancer (2007, 2013)/ Celebrating Leicester hosting the Special Olympics (2009) / Help for Heroes (2011)/ ABF (The Soldiers’ Charity, 2012) / Leicester Children’s Holiday Centre in Mablethorpe (2014)/ Wishes 4 Kids (2015)/ Menphys (2016)/ Motor Neurone Disease Association (2017)/ East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (2018)/ Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (2019, 2022).