Hopkins Westwind Concert Band: Musical Conversations

The Hopkins Westwind Concert Band (HWCB), under the direction of Conductor Mike Anderson and Conductor Emeritus Don Bates, is a community band based in Hopkins, Minnesota. Since 1983 the HWCB has been making music in the Twin Cities metro area. During those years, the band has performed for thousands of people in various outdoor venues including the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis, Centennial Lakes in Edina, the Burwell House in Minnetonka, Friendship Village in Bloomington, Downtown Park in Hopkins, and locations in St. Paul, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, and Plymouth. Since 1987 it has sponsored the Raspberry Festival of Bands, an event that showcases five area community bands. It regularly performs indoor concerts at Edinborough Park in Edina, the Hopkins High School Auditorium, and the Eisenhower Community Center. Since 2000 the HWCB has performed two concerts each year at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The HWCB is proud to be the recipient of a 2014 grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.