About Us

The Sea to Sky Wind Ensemble is a 50+ piece wind symphony led by our Music Director, Tak Maeda. The ensemble grew out of the former North Vancouver Alumni Band.  Established in 1987, 2025-2026 is our 39th season.

​We rehearse weekly at Windsor Secondary School in North Vancouver, at the west end of the school (off of Lytton Street).  Our rehearsals are Tuesday evenings: set up at 8:00 pm for prompt rehearsal start at 8:10 pm until 9:30 pm (during the regular school year). We are always interested in having new members join! Please fill out this form to inquire.  
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Click here to listen to the SSWE live in concert. 

Click here to listen to the SSWE live at the Canadian Memorial United Church, February 2025. 

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​Conductor Tak Maeda

Energetic, passionate, and driven, Tak Maeda believes that embracing every moment at rehearsal and on stage is the key to a successful performance.
 
A graduate of the Osaka College of Music, Tak played his trumpet with The Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, a full time professional orchestra in Osaka, from 1979 to 1989. In addition, he was a Band Clinician for Yamaha Music Foundation Japan for years, where he conducted mass bands and honour bands at Yamaha sponsored clinics and festivals in Western Japan. It was here that he began to mentor younger band instructors.

After moving to Canada in 1990, Tak started conducting/directing local community groups, including Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Choir in North Vancouver and North Vancouver Youth Band.
Tak is now enjoying his busy life as the music director of The Sea to Sky Wind Ensemble (since 2006), West Vancouver Concert Band, West Vancouver Pops Band, and Suncoast Concert Band (Sunshine Coast based). He also occasionally takes on the role of guest conductor at public and private high schools in the Greater Vancouver area, as well as an adjudicator for festivals in BC.

Tak's YouTube Channel