Pacific Symphony Wind Ensemble (PSYWE)

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"My entrance into Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble was one of the most impactful occurrences in my career to date." — Kevin Homma, alto and soprano saxophone

About Pacific Symphony Wind Ensemble (PSYWE)

Established in 2007, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) started under the direction of Michael J. Corrigan, the well-known music educator and recipient of the “Band Educator of the Year” award from the California Music Educators Association, with support from Larry Woody and the Woody Youth Fund. In 2009, Joshua Roach, of the Thornton School of Music at USC, was appointed music director. Under Roach’s direction and unique enthusiasm, and with the artistic direction of Pacific Symphony’s renowned music director, Carl St.Clair, PSYWE quickly became the premier Youth Wind Ensemble in Orange County. 2014-15 marked the inaugural season of current Music Director Gregory X. Whitmore.

Representing 22 schools in and beyond Orange County, PSYWE offers performance opportunities to instrumentalists in grades 8-12 and is one of three Youth Ensembles programs offered by Pacific Symphony. PSYWE provides members with a high quality and innovative artistic experience and strives to encourage musical and personal growth through the art of performance. Each season students enjoy an interaction with Maestro Carl St.Clair, as well as regular interactions with guest artists and professional musicians of Pacific Symphony. Students also engage in an annual weekend retreat and are offered free and discounted tickets to Pacific Symphony performances throughout the season.

Each season, PSYWE presents a three-concert series. Performances are presented at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts as well as other high-quality community venues in Orange County.

Rehearsals take place every Sunday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the music department at the University of California, Irvine, starting in August and ending in May each season. Members are selected through annual auditions which take place in June. (For information about auditions, please click on “auditions” to the right on this page).