Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble (PSWE) is made up of 45 musicians drawn from all over the Lower Mainland. In the words of their Music Director most of them are "outstanding amateur players who make their living doing something else".

PSWE's repertoire is representative of all aspects of the strong wind band tradition and includes traditional and new works from marches and folk song settings to art music. The ensemble still enjoys reading new works within their rehearsals as they did when they came together in 1981.  As PSWE evolved, reaching into the community increasingly became a focus.  They now have a regular season of performances at Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre where they play four or five concerts a year; PSWE also performs a season of two concerts a year at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver.

PSWE is a strong supporter of Canadian composers and regularly seeks out new and unusual works. The group commissioned Vancouver composer Fred Stride and performed the World Premier of "Caverns"- his new work for solo tenor saxophone and wind ensemble.  The World Premier took place at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles conference in Singapore, July of 2005.