The Brooklyn Wind Symphony is a select, all-volunteer ensemble dedicated to high-quality music making. We promote lifelong participation in music by providing a diverse yet like-minded group of advanced instrumentalists the opportunity to play the most esteemed repertoire for symphonic wind ensembles. We increase public awareness of symphonic wind ensembles and the literature written for them through commissioning new works by talented composers and by acting as an arts advocate in major venues in New York City and beyond. 

About Us

Our members come from all professions and walks of life; some of our seats are filled by alumni of the Grand Street Campus High Schools, from which the band took its original name. BKWS fills a huge void for symphonic wind ensembles in the New York City area. Along with our emphasis on musicianship, we take pride in being a social, friendly group that encourages community values and gives our participants the opportunity to play together at the highest level.

BKWS’s efforts continue to surprise and delight both musicians and audiences, while keeping classical music alive and well within the Brooklyn community and beyond. In addition to presenting our regular series at Grand Street High School, we have participated in Columbia University’s Festival of Winds, DCINY’s Lincoln Center Concert Series, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL.

MMC Board of Directors

The Brooklyn Wind Symphony is governed by the MMC Board of Directors. 

Jeff W. Ball
Artistic Director & Conductor

Jeff W. Ball is the Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, established in 2008 as the Grand Street Community Band. From its humble beginnings of less than 30 members, the organization has grown into the Brooklyn Wind Symphony and allowed for the formation of three additional ensembles - the Grand Street Community Band, the Kings County Concert Band and the Bushwick Big Band. The Brooklyn Wind Symphony is the first ever New York City based ensemble to be invited to perform twice at the Midwest Clinic and at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference. The Metropolitan Music Community, a 501c3 non-profit corporation on which Jeff serves as a board member, oversees all four ensembles. Likely due to his work with MMC, Jeff now serves as the NYSSMA State Chairperson for Community Music.

Jeff is also Director of Bands and Coordinator of Performing Arts at the Grand Street Campus (GSC) High Schools in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. His responsibilities include direction of the GSC Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band A and Beginner Band as well as overseeing a large performing arts department offering three modern bands, a marching band, musical theater and theater technology courses. The GSC band program involves over 450 students from the three title one high schools that make up the campus. No interested student is ever turned away from GSC’s band program and every student receives a school owned instrument, free of charge. Over 95% of the band students at GSC begin their musical training in the ninth grade. Despite this late start, the four concert bands and three jazz bands at the school consistently receive the top ratings of “Gold” and “Gold with Distinction” at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) festival, often participating at the highest levels of five and six. Jeff was a semi-finalist for the 2019 Grammy Foundation Music Educator of the Year award.  

Additionally, Jeff served as director of the New York City “All-City” High School Concert Band for over a decade. Jeff also spent five years as director of the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble and as director of the New York City “All-City” High School Marching Band. Jeff spends his summers guest conducting at band camps and festivals ranging from Upstate New York to England, Japan and Australia. 

Jeff received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Jazz Studies from Ithaca College in 2003 and his Master's Degree in Music Education from the same institution in 2008. A resident of the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, he is an active guest conductor and clinician, having conducted bands on three continents and in six countries. 

Kimberly Roof
Assistant Director 

Kimberly Roof received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Toledo and her Master of Music in Conducting from Ohio University. After teaching elementary through high school band and marching band for two years in Ohio, she moved to New York in 2006 to teach at Baldwin High School in Long Island, NY. Currently, she works at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, where she teaches Woodwinds, Chamber Winds, Music Theory, Music History, and Band. She performs regularly with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony (under the auspice of the Metropolitan Music Community), where she serves as the Assistant Conductor and clarinetist. In 2019, she was appointed MMC President.

Committed to advancing the wind band medium, Kimberly is actively involved in commissioning projects with MMC, NYSBDA (New York State School Band Directors Association), and A.S.P.I.R.E. (Advancement of Secondary and Primary Instrumental Repertoire Excellence). Since her time at Baldwin, she has commissioned seven new pieces for the wind band from new and established composers, including Michael Colgrass, Adam Schoenberg, Paul Moravec, Anthony Barfield, David Heckendorn, Joel Puckett, and Ken Lampl. In 2016, the Baldwin Wind Symphony recorded many of these commissioned works. In the same year, Kimberly gave a clinic on Commissioning for the High School Ensemble at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference.

Kimberly has been selected and participated in conducting seminars at the Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School of Music, The Hartt School of Music, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In addition to her musical endeavors, Kimberly is a lover of delicious food and drink. She also participates competitively in triathlons (she is now an Ironman!) and can be found running or cycling throughout NYC and Long Island.