WIND ENSEMBLE

Founded in 1959 by John Overholtzer, the Wind Ensemble has established itself as the premiere performing ensemble at El Cerrito High School. Throughout its 65-year history, the El Cerrito Wind Ensemble has been recognized as one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s top high school wind bands and have been the recipient of countless superior ratings and first place awards at local and state festivals. The band has made regular appearances at the California Music Educator’s Association (CMEA) State Band and Orchestra Festival and has performed in cities across the United States and abroad including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Vancouver. Notable performances include Carnegie Hall in New York City (2015), Chicago’s Symphony Hall (2017), the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (2019), and the the Palau de la Musica in Spain as a part of the City of Valencia International Wind Band Contest (2024). The El Cerrito Wind Ensemble has also been a featured performing ensemble at the 2018 California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in San Jose, and again in 2027 in Sacramento.

Recent Awards and Notable Performances

2025-26
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2024-25
    • Instrumental Sweepstakes Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Outstanding Festival Band; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Gold Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Adjudicator’s Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival (avg. score of 92 or higher)
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2023-24
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2022-23
    • Instrumental Sweepstakes Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • 1st Place; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Gold Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Outstanding Festival Band; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Adjudicator’s Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival (avg. score of 92 or higher)
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2021-22
    • 1st Place; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Gold Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Outstanding Festival Band; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Adjudicator’s Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival (avg. score of 92 or higher)
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2018-19
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Gold Award; Washington D.C. International Music Festival
    • Performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C.
2017-18
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Performance at the 2018 California All-State Music Education Conference
2016-17
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA State Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Gold Award; Chicago International Music Festival
    • Performance at Chicago Symphony Hall
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2015-16
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
    • 1st Place; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Gold Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival
    • Adjudicator’s Award; Anaheim Heritage Festival (avg. score of 92 or higher)
2014-15
    • Performance at Carnegie Hall, NYC
    • Silver Award; New York Wind Band Festival
    • Superior Award; CMEA State Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2013-14
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA State Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2012-13
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
2011-12
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival
    • Sweepstakes Award; Vancouver Heritage Festival
2010-11
    • Unanimous Superior Award; CMEA Band & Orchestra Festival