About Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Established in 2007, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE), has emerged as the premier youth wind ensemble in Orange County, California. As one of only a handful of youth wind ensembles connected to a Group One professional orchestra in the United States, PSYWE is a high-level, pre-professional wind ensemble for dedicated and talented high school wind, brass, and percussion players from throughout the Southern California region.
Current Music Director Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore’s inaugural season began in the fall of 2014, and under Dr. Whitmore’s visionary guidance, the PSYWE has undertaken commissions and world premieres of over six new works for band by renowned and emerging composers, including a world-premiere collaboration with composer Jules Pegram that won the 2019 College Band Directors National Association Frederick Fennell Composition Award. PSYWE continues to explore contemporary music initiatives, and in the last twelve years has welcomed over sixteen guest conductors from leading university schools of music, for residencies with the ensemble. PSYWE has also held over sixteen composer residencies with composers such as John Mackey, Michael Markowski, Giovanni Santos, Kevin Day, Narong Prangcharoen, Kevin Charoensri, Jules Pegram, Adam Schoenberg, Derrick Skye, Alex Shapiro, Frank Ticheli and many more. PSYWE has collaborated in concert with over twenty-five guest artists from across the United States, including with the renowned ~NOIS Saxophone Quartet. In 2025, PSYWE was selected to perform in the Western Region Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance.
In 2025, PSYWE undertook an extraordinarily successful performance tour to Costa Rica, including a sold-out concert at the Teatro Nacional. In 2016-17, PSYWE celebrated its 10th anniversary season, culminating in a tour to Salzburg and Vienna, Austria, where the ensemble participated in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, taking first place in its category, with performances in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, the MuTh Concert Hall, and Vienna’s legendary Konzerthaus.
Representing over thirty schools in the Southern California region, PSYWE offers performance opportunities to instrumentalists in grades 9-12 and is one of four Youth Ensemble 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 interactions 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.
During each season, PSYWE presents a three-concert series. The PSYWE’s performance home is the world-class Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. The PSYWE concert season runs from September through May each year. Members are selected through annual auditions.
Previous PSYWE Music Directors
Dr. Josh Roach - 2009 to 2013
Michael J. Corrigan - 2007 to 2008