What West River Winds Community
Band is All About
Band is All About
Conductors
John Warren
1982 - 2001
Shawn Boehm
2001 - 2004
Ernie Borr
2004 - Present
1982 - 2001
Shawn Boehm
2001 - 2004
Ernie Borr
2004 - Present
How West River Winds Came to Be
Meet the West River Winds Current Director
Ernest B. Borr
Ernie Borr graduated from Jamestown College with a BA in Music Education, and later received his Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught choir and band at Napoleon ND, served in the US Army and then spent fifteen years in Mandan where he taught music, system wide, eventually serving as Director of Bands. While in Mandan, Ernie’s Bands received numerous recognitions as they were selected to perform for several ND Music Educators Concert Hours, two performances at the Music Educators National Conference and his Jazz Ensembles received top recognitions in numerous area festivals.
He served as President of the North Dakota Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference, the North Dakota Education Association, and was the coordinator of the North Dakota All State Festival for several years. In 1972, Ernie was asked to start the instrumental music program at Mary College (now the University of Mary) in Bismarck. He began the instrumental program, initiated the U of Mary Jazz Festival, initiated the music major, served as music department chairman and was named Vice President for Public Affairs at the University of Mary in 1976. After a twenty five year career in fundraising as a practitioner and consultant, Ernie retired in 2000. Since his retirement, he has continued his interests in music and demonstrated his continued ability to serve as a leader of musical organizations.
Ernie is the current director of the West River Winds, a Community based summer band located in Mandan-Bismarck. He is the founder and director of the Classic Chorale in the Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort in Mesa, AZ, he is associate conductor of the Viewpoint Concert Band and directed of the Viewpoint Church Choir for three years. Until this past year, Ernie also directed two area Big Bands in Mesa Retirement Communities. Ernie also sings in the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Men's Chorus and the Cathedral Church Choir.
In 2009, Ernie received a Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association for his many years of service to Instrumental music
Ernie and his wife Donna have five grown children and celebrated their 50th anniversary of marriage in 2007. They reside in Bismarck, with a winter home in Mesa AZ.
Ernest B. Borr
Ernie Borr graduated from Jamestown College with a BA in Music Education, and later received his Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught choir and band at Napoleon ND, served in the US Army and then spent fifteen years in Mandan where he taught music, system wide, eventually serving as Director of Bands. While in Mandan, Ernie’s Bands received numerous recognitions as they were selected to perform for several ND Music Educators Concert Hours, two performances at the Music Educators National Conference and his Jazz Ensembles received top recognitions in numerous area festivals.
He served as President of the North Dakota Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference, the North Dakota Education Association, and was the coordinator of the North Dakota All State Festival for several years. In 1972, Ernie was asked to start the instrumental music program at Mary College (now the University of Mary) in Bismarck. He began the instrumental program, initiated the U of Mary Jazz Festival, initiated the music major, served as music department chairman and was named Vice President for Public Affairs at the University of Mary in 1976. After a twenty five year career in fundraising as a practitioner and consultant, Ernie retired in 2000. Since his retirement, he has continued his interests in music and demonstrated his continued ability to serve as a leader of musical organizations.
Ernie is the current director of the West River Winds, a Community based summer band located in Mandan-Bismarck. He is the founder and director of the Classic Chorale in the Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort in Mesa, AZ, he is associate conductor of the Viewpoint Concert Band and directed of the Viewpoint Church Choir for three years. Until this past year, Ernie also directed two area Big Bands in Mesa Retirement Communities. Ernie also sings in the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Men's Chorus and the Cathedral Church Choir.
In 2009, Ernie received a Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association for his many years of service to Instrumental music
Ernie and his wife Donna have five grown children and celebrated their 50th anniversary of marriage in 2007. They reside in Bismarck, with a winter home in Mesa AZ.
THE WEST RIVER WINDS - A COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR
In early 1982, John Warren, the director of bands at Mandan High School, and a group of local interested musicians, discussed the possibility of forming an adult community band that would rehearse and perform in a “Concert In The Park” setting in Mandan. Their goal was to perform one or more open-air concerts in the location then known as the Burlington Northern Park. The initial group was successful in forming a community band that rehearsed in the Mandan High School Band Room with music, instruments and equipment provided by Mandan Public Schools. The community welcomed the band and encouraged them to continue the following season.
In 1983, the name West River Winds was chosen and a permanent organization was formed to sustain the community band. Red Shirts with the WRW Community Band Logo provided an identity and the band grew in size and musical competance. John Warren served as the group’s first conductor and continued in this capacity until 2001 when the directorship passed to Shawn Boehm, a Mandan native and associate director of the Mandan High School Bands. Under the leadership of Warren and Boehm, the band assumed a rehearsal and performance routine that allowed for public concerts in June with a culminating performance as part of the Mandan 4th of July celebration. The West River Winds initially performed near the old Beanery. The group later moved its performances to a newly constructed bandstand that was provided by a community fundraising effort led by the Mandan Musician’s Association. This bandstand continues to serve as the performance venue for the West River Winds and other performing groups throughout the summer months.
In 2004, Ernest B. Borr succeeded Shawn Boehm as the director of the West River Winds. Ernie is no stranger to the Mandan community, as he served as the director of the Mandan High School Bands during their growth years in the 60’s and 70’s. He also founded the University of Mary instrumental program. Ernie’s return to the Mandan Community in a leadership role for the West River Winds, has led to a substantial growth of membership in the summer performance group. The current membership of the West River Winds is between seventy and eighty members strong. They continue to rehearse in May, perform in June and early July to the enthusiastic response of the local community.
West River Winds concert programs regularly include a variety of marches, featured soloists, overtures and music selected from the traditional band library. The West River Winds draws its members from the local communities of Mandan and Bismarck and also from surrounding communities including New Salem, Wilton, Washburn, Wing, Zeeland and Ashley. The West River Winds receive financial support from the local community with primary support coming the business community.
Barb Murry, a member and current president, provides the leadership for a volunteer board of directors. The board provides for the necessary committee structure that ensures the necessary environment for the West River Winds success.
In early 1982, John Warren, the director of bands at Mandan High School, and a group of local interested musicians, discussed the possibility of forming an adult community band that would rehearse and perform in a “Concert In The Park” setting in Mandan. Their goal was to perform one or more open-air concerts in the location then known as the Burlington Northern Park. The initial group was successful in forming a community band that rehearsed in the Mandan High School Band Room with music, instruments and equipment provided by Mandan Public Schools. The community welcomed the band and encouraged them to continue the following season.
In 1983, the name West River Winds was chosen and a permanent organization was formed to sustain the community band. Red Shirts with the WRW Community Band Logo provided an identity and the band grew in size and musical competance. John Warren served as the group’s first conductor and continued in this capacity until 2001 when the directorship passed to Shawn Boehm, a Mandan native and associate director of the Mandan High School Bands. Under the leadership of Warren and Boehm, the band assumed a rehearsal and performance routine that allowed for public concerts in June with a culminating performance as part of the Mandan 4th of July celebration. The West River Winds initially performed near the old Beanery. The group later moved its performances to a newly constructed bandstand that was provided by a community fundraising effort led by the Mandan Musician’s Association. This bandstand continues to serve as the performance venue for the West River Winds and other performing groups throughout the summer months.
In 2004, Ernest B. Borr succeeded Shawn Boehm as the director of the West River Winds. Ernie is no stranger to the Mandan community, as he served as the director of the Mandan High School Bands during their growth years in the 60’s and 70’s. He also founded the University of Mary instrumental program. Ernie’s return to the Mandan Community in a leadership role for the West River Winds, has led to a substantial growth of membership in the summer performance group. The current membership of the West River Winds is between seventy and eighty members strong. They continue to rehearse in May, perform in June and early July to the enthusiastic response of the local community.
West River Winds concert programs regularly include a variety of marches, featured soloists, overtures and music selected from the traditional band library. The West River Winds draws its members from the local communities of Mandan and Bismarck and also from surrounding communities including New Salem, Wilton, Washburn, Wing, Zeeland and Ashley. The West River Winds receive financial support from the local community with primary support coming the business community.
Barb Murry, a member and current president, provides the leadership for a volunteer board of directors. The board provides for the necessary committee structure that ensures the necessary environment for the West River Winds success.
