A concert band, variously also called a wind ensemble, symphonic band, wind symphony, wind orchestra, wind band, symphonic winds, symphony band, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion families of instruments, and occasionally including the double bass or bass guitar. On rare occasions, additional non-traditional instruments may be added to such ensembles such as piano, harp, synthesizer, or electric guitar.
The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) is a youth orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts under the artistic leadership of Music Director, Federico Cortese. Since 1958, BYSO has served thousands of young musicians from throughout New England with three full symphonic orchestras, two young string training orchestras, six chamber orchestras, a preparatory wind ensemble, a chamber music program and a nationally recognized instrument training program for underrepresented youth from inner-city communities called the Intensive Community Program (ICP). The 2017-2018 season marks the celebration of BYSO's 60th Anniversary.
A rehearsal is an activity in the performing arts that occurs as preparation for a performance in music, theatre, dance and related arts, such as opera, musical theatre and film production. It is undertaken as a form of practising, to ensure that all details of the subsequent performance are adequately prepared and coordinated. The term rehearsal typically refers to ensemble activities undertaken by a group of people. For example, when a musician is preparing a piano concerto in their music studio, this is called practicing, but when they practice it with an orchestra, this is called a rehearsal. The music rehearsal takes place in a music rehearsal space.
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO-GB) is the national youth orchestra of the United Kingdom, consisting of 164 members of ages 13 to 19 years. The players are selected by auditions which take place in the autumn each year at various locations in the country. The minimum standard needed to audition is ABRSM / Trinity Guildhall / London College of Music Grade 8 Distinction – though it is not necessary to have taken any examinations. The NYO's aim is to be "the most inspirational orchestra for young people" and at many of its concerts, all seats are only £5 for under 25s. In 2011, the orchestra was shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society's Best Ensemble Award. In 2012, the NYO received the Queen's Medal for Music. In 2015 the NYO received the Royal Philharmonic Society's Ensemble award, which recognised particularly the launch of NYO Inspire as well as their other work.
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC), the largest youth ensemble music program in the Midwest, was founded in 1993 in Evanston, Illinois by Dr. Allan Dennis and consisted of a single orchestra. Since then, MYAC has grown exponentially and now includes nine youth symphony orchestras, 65+ chamber ensembles, a comprehensive jazz and big band program, a wind symphony, four choral groups, and an entry level early childhood music program for children as young as 12 months. MYAC is renowned for its prize-winning Chamber Music Program. Other enrichment activities, such as music theory classes and Summer Music Programs, are also offered at the MYAC Center on the grounds of historic Fort Sheridan in Highwood, Illinois, and Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Park. Nearly 1000 student musicians from 78 cities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area are enrolled in Midwest Young Artists Conservatory programs. MYAC ensembles are coached by a staff of professional musician-educators, which includes members of Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Chamber Players.
The San Jose Youth Symphony (SJYS) is a non-profit youth orchestra located in San Jose, California.
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) provide a complete orchestral experience for its students aged between 8 and 25, through its pathway of orchestras, jazz bands, training ensembles and outreach programmes.
The Colorado Children's Chorale is a nationally recognized singing group in Colorado established in 1974, a result of the successful assembly by founder Duain Wolfe of a youth ensemble to perform in Central City Opera's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mr. Wolfe recognized the opportunity to fulfill an ongoing need for a professionally trained children's choral resource and as such, the primary mission of the Chorale as a performing ensemble remains to this day.
The Philharmonic Winds, also known as Philwinds, is a Singaporean semi-professional wind orchestra. The orchestra was formed in 2000 with Robert Casteels as Music Director and currently has more than 70 dedicated members. It is currently under the artistic leadership of Music Director Leonard Tan.
Philip Grange is an English composer and academic.
The New York Youth Symphony, founded in 1963, is a tuition-free music organization for the youth in New York City, widely reputed to be one of the best of its kind in the nation and world. Its programs include its flagship symphony orchestra, Chamber Music program, Jazz Band Classic, Apprentice Conducting, and Making Score. Its members range from 12 to 22 years of age.
Birmingham Symphonic Winds (BSW) is a UK-based amateur wind orchestra in the style of the Eastman Wind Ensemble.
James Gourlay is a Scottish conductor and tubist.
Yasuhide Ito is a contemporary Japanese composer.
The National Children's Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (NCWO) is one of the most accomplished Youth Wind groups in the United Kingdom and is run by the same organisation as that of the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Great Britain.
The Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble is a Canadian wind band from the Metro Vancouver area in British Columbia. The ensemble's home venue is the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam.
Atlanta Chamber Winds is the premiere ensemble of its type in the Southeast. Founded by Robert J. Ambrose in 2006, the group includes many of the finest professional wind players in Atlanta including members of the Atlanta Opera and Ballet Orchestras. The ensemble's core instrumentation consists of pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and horns, along with trumpet and trombone. Additional musicians supplement the group as the repertoire demands. As the only chamber wind ensemble in the metropolitan area, the Atlanta Chamber Winds provides a unique voice in the cultural landscape of the city.
The Brooklyn Wind Symphony (BKWS) is a community band based in Brooklyn, New York.
The National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (NYWO) consists of around 75 young musicians aged 14 to 21 from England, Scotland and Wales. Members are required to hold a minimum instrument Grade 8 at distinction level and are selected by auditions which take place annually in the autumn at various musical centres across the UK.
Joseph Phibbs is an English composer of orchestral, choral and chamber music. He has also composed for theatre, both in the UK and Japan. Since 1998 he has written regularly to commissions for Festivals, for private sponsors, and for the BBC, which has broadcast premieres of his orchestral and chamber works from the Proms and elsewhere. His works have been given premieres in Europe, the United States and the Far East, and he has received prestigious awards, including most recently a British Composer Award, and a Library of Congress Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation Award. Many of his works have been premiered by leading international musicians, including Dame Evelyn Glennie, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin, Sakari Oramo, Vasily Petrenko, Gianandrea Noseda, and the Belcea Quartet.
