The Wind Orchestra is the premier performance ensemble at Port Charlotte High School. Membership is by audition only. This ensemble is composed of the finest student musicians in the band program and performs sophisticated literature. Membership in this ensemble is through an audition process. In addition to FBA sanctioned festivals, the Wind Orchestra performs a Fall concert, Winter Concert, American Music Concert, a Transcription Concert and participates in the annual “Colors of Sound” Spring performance. As a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Wind Ensemble has received an overall superior rating at the District level for 22 consecutive years. As a perennial participant in the State Music Festival, the Wind Ensemble has received an overall Superior rating at the State Festival for the last 15 consecutive years. The Wind Ensemble has been the recipient of the prestigious Otto Kraushaar Award presented by the FBA for straight Superior performances at all levels for 12 of the last 14 years. Additionally, the Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform twice at the Stetson University Band Invitational and at the University of Florida Band Invitational.
In March of 2011, the Wind Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a participant in the New York Wind Band Festival. In January of 2001, the Wind Ensemble hosted the Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra from Saitama, Japan while this internationally acclaimed ensemble toured the United States. A joint concert was attended by over 1500 community supporters and music enthusiasts. Wind Ensemble members have been selected numerous times as members of the Florida All-State Bands. They have also participated in the Tri-State Band Clinics at Florida State University, The University of Miami Honor Band, the University of South Florida Honor Band, and the Florida Southern and Boone Summer Music Camps. Graduates have continued their musical education and careers at such prestigious institutions as Harvard University, Yale University, Florida State University, The University of Florida, The University of South Florida, The University of Central Florida, The University of Miami, Stetson University, The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, The Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, Ohio State University and Northwestern University.