Windy City Winds Celebrates America’s 250th Birthday at Washington Square Park – Chicago

Recognizing America’s rich and varied musical heritage is the perfect way to celebrate the birth of our republic. 2026 is the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Various semiquincentennial celebrations have taken place nationwide to commemorate the 1776 signing of the document that signaled colonial independence from England.

To mark the occasion, Windy City Winds performed a series of free public concerts in parks around the city during the month of July. Chicago Broadcasting Network is proud to share highlights of their final performance from the series performed at Washington Square Park in Chicago’s Gold Coast Area.

The video opens with a short warm-up by the flute section playing “Canon in D” followed by “My Favorite Things.” The full concert features patriotic marches and distinctly American music, including selections by John Philip Sousa, Charles Ives, Leonard Bernstein, as well as Chicago area composer James Stephenson, along with musical salutes to American jazz standards and musical themes from classic television sitcoms.

Windy City Winds is a community concert band comprised of roughly sixty skilled volunteer woodwind, brass, and percussion players age 21 and older with experience performing at the collegiate level. Founded in 2015 by Mark Mosley and Sarah Good Mosley who serve together as Music Directors and co-conductors. The ensemble’s mission is to present high‑quality performances throughout Chicago while broadening public appreciation for wind band music.

Many band members were accomplished music majors who ultimately pursued careers in other fields but never lost their commitment and love of playing. Because most repertoire for their instruments is written for ensemble performance, Windy City Winds provides a place for them to sustain their lifelong dedication to music-making as an avocation, while performing at an advanced level.

Chicago’s Washington Square Park established in 1842 is thought to be named after a similar inner city park located on Manhattan in New York City. By 1906 improvements were needed. Renovations were planned by the renowned landscape designer, Jens Jensen. After awhile the location became a favorite site for a diverse assortment of soapbox orators earning it the moniker of “Bughouse Square” as it became a popular spot for artists, writers, political radicals, and hobos who pontificated, lectured, recited poetry, or simply ranted and raved.

Today the park is currently lovingly looked after by the Washington Square Park Advisory Council who arrange for concerts such as this, as well as other activities and events for the benefit of the public..

Enjoy concert highlights here on our website or click through to our youtube channel. Please consider subscribing to be alerted when new content is added.

Note: Video is comprised of a recorded livestream from Facebook as well as additional video by Reno Lovison using a Canon 80D and Julie Lovison using an iPhone. Post-production editing by RenoWeb.net