The Finnish Wind Orchestra Association nominates for Wind Orchestra of the Year an orchestra in the field of amateur music that has distinguished itself in the past year in a particularly outstanding way, artistically or otherwise. “The orchestra does long-term and high-quality work to strengthen the vitality and community of wind music in the Turku region. The orchestra offers its musicians a goal-oriented, inspiring and pedagogically meaningful environment and provides the community with diverse and high-quality concert experiences as part of the region’s musical culture,” said Sami Ruusuvuori, President of the Finnish Wind Orchestra Association, at the National Wind Orchestra Days in Pori on the weekend of 13-15 March 2026. The Aura Wind Band at the Turku Conservatory is led by conductor Pekka Lyytinen.

Aura Wind Band aims to be a purposeful learning environment for students in the final stages of basic and advanced studies in the arts. The group also includes students from secondary vocational schools and universities of applied sciences. The concerts and performances will be accompanied by the possibility of professional demonstrations. The orchestra also includes a significant number of out-of-school musicians and instrumentalists who have already completed their music studies and wish to maintain their hobby or professional skills by playing together.

The orchestra’s own regular concert activities and the annual Turku Wind Music Festival have played an important role in the orchestra’s activities. The concerts are also often used for professional proficiency tests in orchestral and soloist tasks. Abroad, the orchestra has performed in Novgorod, Tallinn and Italy, and in Finland in Lahti, Tampere, Rauma, Ekenäs and Mariehamn.

In terms of national events, the orchestra has participated in the World Brass Band Championships in Pietarsaari in 2013, Kuopio Youth Playing in 2015 and 2020, the World Championships in Turku in 2017 and 2025, and WindFest 2021 in Pori.

The Aura Wind Band will next perform its spring concert “Signs of Spring! – Here comes the sun” in Sigyn Hall on Monday 30 March at 19.00. Samuli Nieminen will play saxophone and clarinet as soloist and Pekka Lyytinen will conduct the band. The concert will also feature the Aura Mini Winds conducted by Enni Vainio and Mia Pertola. Admission to the concert is free.