Meet the Staff

Music Director, Dr. Birch Browning

Dr. Birch Browning is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Cleveland State University, and Music Director ofthe Cleveland Winds, a professional wind band he founded in 2009. A veteran educator, Dr. Browning joined the CSU faculty in 2002 after a distinguished career teaching band and orchestra in Florida. He holds a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University.As an active conductor and clinician, Dr. Browning has led performances at the Ohio Music Education Association(OMEA) conference on four occasions.

Under his leadership, the Cleveland Winds was awarded The American Prize (first place) in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance (Community Division) in 2016 and second place in 2024. His ensembles have been featured on WCLV six times and are recorded on three volumes of the Timothy Reynish International Repertoire Series, available globally on all major streaming platforms.

Executive Director, Michelle Hannaford

Michelle Hannaford serves as Executive Director of Cleveland Winds, a volunteer leadership role she took on in 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Cleveland State University, a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University, and an MBA from Whitworth University.

Michelle brings over a decade of experience in program and event leadership across the performing arts, including roles at performing arts centers, universities, and music institutions. She currently works as an Implementation Consultant at Momentus Technologies, where she advises arts and event organizations on technology strategy and operations. At Cleveland Winds, she leads the organization’s operations, administration, and strategic growth, working closely with the board to build sustainable programs and expand the ensemble’s reach across Northeast Ohio.