Sacred Winds Ministries

Founded in 1997 by Scott Bersaglia, the Sacred Winds Ensemble presents concerts focusing on the everlasting truth of God and His son, Jesus Christ.  The ensemble’s initial purpose was to provide an expansive musical compliment to the worship service of Petrey Memorial Baptist, the conductor’s home church.  Since then, the ensemble has unfolded into a ministering body spreading the Word of a sovereign and personal God.

The Sacred Winds Ensemble Commissioning Project was established in 2000 and encompasses works for wind, string, and choral ensembles as well as multi-media pieces.  In 2007, David Maslanka was commissioned to write a work commemorate the group’s ten-year anniversary.  The result was Unending Stream of Life.

In 2004, the ensemble commissioned Libby Griffin of Austin, TX to design the ministry’s logo.  Regarding the logo, Mrs. Griffin writes:

“The design grew from the incorporation of the downbeat and movement of the baton as a conductor leads musicians.  It was my desire that life and energy be communicated in the logo.  It was also my desire that it convey the essence of the life of Jesus Christ that flows in those who know Him as Savior and Lord.  ‘JC’ moves from left to right in the design.”

Drawing her inspiration from Acts 17:24-28, Mrs. Griffin further states:

“It is the final portion of this passage that came to my heart as I designed the logo.  For without Him we are nothing.  Without His infusing life, anything we do is empty and meaningless.  It is His life that must play through us to praise Him before His body, and carry His life to the lost.”

The ensemble embarked on their first tour performing at the 2008 Baptist Music Conference National Convention in New Orleans, LA, with accompanying performances in Kentucky and Tennessee.  In February 2010, the group performed at the Kentucky Music Educators Association State Conference.

Noted guest artists of the Sacred Winds Ensemble include Jerry Junkin, guest conductor; Teresa Alzadon, soprano; Judson Perry, tenor; and Jody J. Nagel, J. Daniel Jenkins, Thomas Root, Craig Biondi, John Vander Gheynst, and David Maslanka, composers-in-residence.  The ensemble has also collaborated with the Appalachian Regional Choir, Keith Reynolds, Conductor and the Morehead State University Chamber Choir, Greg Detweiler, Conductor.

The Sacred Winds Ensemble is comprised of volunteer musicians from across the United States and abroad.  The ensemble is under the governing body of Sacred Winds Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity whose mission is to provide Christian outreach through the arts, music, and education.