The UNSW Wind Band was founded in 1991 to perform works specially composed for wind ensembles with or without percussion. The Wind Band provides a rich experience for musicians who prefer to play this repertoire, largely dating from after 1900. Also in the repertoire of the Wind Band are arrangements of works from all eras and styles, including jazz, popular and art-music forms.

The Wind Band offers a congenial home, as well, to many of the woodwind and brass players who come forward to join the Orchestra but do not gain one of the very limited number of places for such players that an Orchestra has available.

The Wind Band was established by two undergraduate students, David Gilfillan and Emery Schubert, and gave its first concert on 26 May 1991.

Up to the end of 2009 the Wind Band has given 61 concerts, many of them in the open air for the enjoyment of the lunchtime crowds on campus.

There are about 50 players in the Wind Band at any one time.

Composers who have figured prominently in the Wind Band’s concert programs in recent years are Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Percy Grainger, Gustav Holst, Arthur Jacob, Alfred Reed and William Walton.

The Wind Band’s popular conductor and musical director is Steven Hillinger. Steven graduated in music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1992, having studied the French Horn with Anthony Buddle. He has performed on this instrument with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra. Since completing postgraduate studies in Conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium in 1997 with Henryk Pisarek and John Hopkins, Steven has developed a vibrant career as a conductor in parallel with his appearances as a performer.

Apart from his role as conductor of the UNSW Wind Band, Steven currently conducts the the Ascham School Symphony Orchestra, the North Sydney Girls’ High School Symphony Orchestra and the North Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

He has in recent years also appeared as a conductor with several other orchestras in the Sydney region, notably the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

Regular conductors of the UNSW Wind Band in earlier years include: David Gilfillan (1991-1993), Chris Blenkinsopp (1994-1998 and 2001-2003), Gary McPherson (1999-2000), and Mathias Rogala-Koczorowski (2004-2005). Emery Schubert has been a frequent guest conductor.