History of the Nashville Wind Symphony:
The ensemble that will be known as the Nashville Wind Symphony as of Fall 2025, was first organized as a chamber ensemble prior to 1990 by Dr. Stephen L. Rhodes, then Director of Bands at David Lipscomb University. The instrumentation was variable and works performed were diverse, even including strings. In 1990, Dr. Rhodes added additional members to fill a wind ensemble instrumentation of approximately 40 players, and the group began performing as the “Nashville Wind Ensemble.”
Under Dr. Rhodes, the ensemble rehearsed and performed at David Lipscomb University and had access to the university’s music library and large instruments at no expense. In addition to conducting and preparing the ensemble for performance, Dr. Rhodes managed all aspects of the ensemble’s activities - scheduling and planning, programming, finding and confirming personnel, and much more. Membership was by invitation of the director and made up of highly-skilled, experienced, adult musicians. Many, but not all, were area music educators and music industry professionals. Between 1990 and 2019, in addition to regular performances in the Collins Alumni Auditorium at David Lipscomb University, the ensemble’s performances included:
The TN Music Educators Association In-Service Conference - 6 times
A national convention of the American School Band Directors Association in 2009
A Southeast regional conference of the American School Band Directors Association in 2011
12 performances at five different Nashville-area universities
6 performances at four different churches
3 performances for the Governor’s School for the Arts
21 performances at 17 different area high schools, several of which were shared concerts with the high school ensemble or with another community band
At the end of the 2017-2018 academic year, Steve Rhodes retired from David Lipscomb University, and Dr. Ben Blasko was hired as his successor. With the university’s support and generosity, Dr. Rhodes continued to lead the Nashville Wind Ensemble. Over 2019 and early 2020 Dr. Blasko offered interested members of the group some additional opportunities to perform in tandem with the University band and music department’s activities. Then, in March 2020, the pandemic halted everything. That fall, Dr. Rhodes announced that he would be moving to Knoxville to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He asked that the name “Nashville Wind Ensemble” be retired with him, and that ensemble’s tenure officially ended.
Then, in summer of 2021, Ben Blasko reached out to former members of the Nashville Wind Ensemble and announced his desire to re-form the group. Planning commenced for a Fall concert cycle with rehearsals starting in August at David Lipscomb. However, a surge in Covid-19 cases among the ensemble’s members ended the planned concert cycle before it even began, and the university asked Dr. Blasko to pause the ensemble’s return to campus.
About 18 months went by, and in Spring of 2023, with the university’s blessing, Dr. Blasko reorganized the ensemble under the new name, “Green Hills Wind Symphony.” The group played its first concert in September of 2023 with Dr. Jack Stamp as guest conductor and featured composer. Under Dr. Blasko, the ensemble size increased to approximately 80 performers, including a number of select Lipscomb University music majors.
In Spring of 2025 Dr. Blasko announced that he would be leaving David Lipscomb and Nashville. The Green Hills Wind Symphony had performed four concerts under his direction. Over the years, over 180 different individuals performed with either the Nashville Wind Ensemble or Green Hills Wind Symphony. At the time of the last performance in April of 2025, the ensemble still included 19 members who had performed with the group for 10 or more years, and nine of those were original members who had played with the group since 1990.