Our Mission
To advance the public’s appreciation of the arts by producing music for public presentations, concerts, and performances, and by providing a forum for musicians to practice and present their works through participation in such events.
– From our Constitution & Bylaws
Our Values
Community
We love our little community within the ensemble, but also at our core is a goal to serve the greater community through musical performances around the Fraser Valley.
Positive environment
Warm and welcoming; accepting and safe; encouraging and supportive. This is how we like to be, and this is how we build each other up.
Music
I mean, that is the primary reason we’re here! We love music, and we love playing music. Most of all, we love playing music together, and sharing it with others.
Diversity & Inclusion
Our members come from all walks of life, and we love it! We love welcoming players into the ensemble regardless of race, occupation, religious beliefs, or sexual identity and orientation.
Fun
Our time together in rehearsals and at performances is filled with fun. We enjoy each other’s humor, and enjoy playing music together.
Respect
We respect and appreciate each other. In fact we tend to rather like each other!
Relationship
We value the relationships we form as members of the FVCW, professionally and personally. Many friendships have been formed here (in fact, several who met here are now married!)
Growth
Part of being a musician (or any human being, really) is about growth. Here, every rehearsal is an opportunity for learning, and for developing one’s skills. As a group, we always strive to improve our sound, and work together to perform at our best.
Our Ensemble
The FVCW is a symphonic wind ensemble whose members come together to contribute and build their musical skills, perform quality music, have fun, and foster community spirit through music.
We are a registered charity (registered as the Abbotsford Concert Band Society), and are proud to serve our community through music. We are dedicated to advancing appreciation of music, growing in musical skill, and reaching hearts of all ages.
We have been part of the music community in the Fraser Valley for nearly sixty years, playing a wide assortment of music, from marches to dance music to symphonic festival pieces, at just about any sort of community event where music can lift the heart.
The FVCW enjoys being a diverse group. Our ensemble includes members from their early teens to late eighties, and range from people who like to keep up with their hobby to musicians with a career in the field. Whether you took band in school or learned an instrument later, the FVCW is a great place to utilize and refine your musical skills while having fun. We are always looking for new intermediate to advanced players of all ages to join us!
Our Director
The FVCW is under the expert direction of Gregory Johnson.
Greg is a skilled and passionate conductor and musician. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Victoria, and his Master of Music degree at the University of Manitoba. His studies and conducting adventures have taken him all over, but he lives here in the Fraser Valley, where he was born and raised. He and his wife have two children and live fun, dynamic, and very busy lives. Greg has offered his expertise in many contexts around the Valley, nurturing the music communities and inspiring excellence and a love for music at every turn. He has maintained a great coaching relationship working with young people in the Surrey Youth Orchestra and spent some time as the Music Director of the Vancouver Folk Orchestra. Currently, in addition to devoting his time to the FVCW, he is the conductor and Artistic Director of the Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra, and teaches music full time at Woodward Hill Elementary in Surrey.
We are extremely grateful to Greg for the time, expertise, and enthusiasm he gives to us at the FVCW.
