About Us
Classical music is at a crossroads — and we're meeting the moment. ECCW connects new generations to the richness of chamber music through engaging concerts, youth outreach, and fresh programming. Discover how we're reimagining the concert experience in Western New York.
About The Erie
County Chamber
Winds
The Erie County Chamber Winds was founded by Dr. Rick Fleming, originally bringing together a group of passionate amateur musicians dedicated to performing chamber wind music from the 18th through the 21st centuries. Over time, the ensemble has grown into a professional group, now performing in respected concert halls and venues throughout Western New York.
Our mission is twofold: to make classical music accessible to all — especially underserved communities — and to shine a light on composers whose works are too often overlooked by mainstream ensembles. From timeless masters like Mozart and Dvořák to contemporary voices, ECCW is committed to sharing a wide range of music that inspires, educates, and connects audiences of every generation.
By doing so, we aim to nurture a deeper appreciation of classical music across Western New York and beyond, encouraging young people and new listeners to discover and fall in love with music they might otherwise never experience.
Rick Fleming Bio
Rick Fleming is professor of music and director of bands at SUNY Buffalo State, where he conducts the Buffalo State College Wind and Jazz Ensembles. He also teaches undergraduate conducting and instrumental methods. He is the founding conductor of the Erie County Chamber Winds (a professional chamber wind ensemble) as well as the founder and performer of the Rockwell Brass Quintet.
Fleming received his Ph.D. in Music Education with emphasis in wind band conducting from The Florida State University where he studied with Clifford K. Madsen and James E. Croft. He earned his M.M. degree in trombone performance from The University of Mississippi and Bachelor of Music Education from Mississippi Valley State University where he studied with Professors Russell Boone and Leonard E. Tramiel.
Fleming has presented many clinics for the Florida Bandmaster Association on the topics “Teaching Band in Multicultural Environments” and “Young Band Directors’ Success.” He has served as guest conductor for the Yale Concert Band, the Jackson Mississippi All City Band, The Mississippi All State Band, the Ark-LA Tech Band Festival at Louisiana Tech University, and a myriad of honor bands throughout the United States. He has also presented the Erie County Chamber Winds at the New York State Band Association Symposium in 2003.
Fleming’s international conducting experience includes conducting the University of Szeged Wind Ensemble in Szeged, Hungary. He also conducted the Youth Band of the Private Music and Art School for the East European Symposium for Wind Conductors November 24-28, 2004, in Szeged, Hungary. In 2006, Dr Fleming served as an adjudicator for the Tygerburg Fanfare International Band Festival in Cape Town, South Africa. He has published chapters in the GIA Publication’s Teaching Music Through Performance Beginning Band Volume 2 and Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz.
He is a member of Phi Beta Mu National Band Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity. He also serves on the Buffalo Philharmonic Diversity Committee. As a trombonist, Dr. Fleming has performed for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Four Tops, Connie Francis, Frankie Valli, Marie Osmond and 10 Thousand Maniacs. He has also toured with the Irish Tenors and performs regularly for various organizations throughout the Western New York area.
Proudly serving Buffalo, Amherst, Niagara Falls, West Seneca, Lancaster, and communities
across Western New York.
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