The University of Louisville Wind Ensemble is widely known for its persuasive performances of significant works representing a variety of styles in the wind band repertoire. Directed by Dr. Frederick Speck, the musicians aspire to the highest level of musical and artistic standards. The ensemble maintains an active schedule of performances and is comprised of the finest woodwind, brass, and percussion students at the university.

In addition to campus performances, the ensemble has been invited to perform at numerous professional association conferences. Such performances include Kentucky Music Educators Association In-Service Conferences, College Band Directors National Association-Southern Division Conferences, the Music Educators National Conference National Convention, the College Band Directors National Conference in New York City, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Killarney, Ireland and the Jungfrau Music Festival in Interlaken, Switzerland. The WASBE Conference performance was acclaimed as “Un tour de force enorme” (Miguel Etchegoncelay, Argentina), “ein Konzert der Superlative” (Peter Bucher, Switzerland) and as possessing “assertive musicality and powerful precision” by Chris Woodruff, USA). Also commenting on this concert was Timothy Reynish, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Past-President, who observed that Karel Husa’s “Cheetah … has to be played as brilliantly as this. Frederick Speck is a meticulous conductor, and the ensemble was on outstanding form, throwing Husa’s virtuosity off effortlessly… a concert which centered on the Grawemeyer composers Husa, Penderecki, Takemitsu and Joan Tower, and this was an intriguing, brilliantly played and conducted programme.”