Wind Ensemble

Written By Josh Cohen

Wind Ensemble (WE) consists of high-school (year 7-12) aged woodwind, brass and percussion players seeking musical challenges in an advanced wind orchestra.

Conductor David Law programs classic works for wind orchestra such as Holst and Vaughan Williams Suites, new and contemporary works for band and Australian works by composers such as Hultgren and Grainger.

WE performs in three Concerts at Twilight at the Old Museum Concert Hall, various workshops and special events, and the QYO Finale Concert at QPAC.

For WE, positions are offered ‘within the section’ and seating orders are arranged by the conductor within the first few rehearsals.

INFORMATION

  • 75-member wind orchestra

  • Intermediate and advanced wind orchestra repertoire

  • Conductor: David Law (since 2009)

  • Rehearsals: Fridays 6.00pm-8.30pm at The Old Museum

  • Sectional tutorials: on selected Fridays during rehearsal times

  • Weekend music camp: Luther Heights, Coolum, Friday 8 to Sunday 11 March 2024

ELIGIBILITY

  • Minimum AMEB Grade 5 (guide only)

  • Must be high-school student (or equivalent) in years 7-12.

  • Applicants who are in primary school or university in 2023 are not eligible to audition for, or join WE

  • Maximum age limit as at 31 December 2024 is 18 years

INSTRUMENTS

  • Flute (9), Piccolo (1), Oboe (2),

  • Bb Clarinet (18), Soprano Clarinet (1), Alto Clarinet (1), Bass Clarinet (2),

  • Bassoon (4)

  • Alto Saxophone (2), Tenor Saxophone (1), Baritone Saxophone (1)

  • French Horn (5), Trumpet (8), Trombone (6), Euphonium (3), Tuba (4)

  • Double Bass (2)

  • Percussion (8)

Conductor

Featured
David Law
David Law

David Law has conducted the Wind Ensemble since 2009. He began his journey with QYO in 1997 as a member of the Wind Ensemble, and from 1999 to 2003, held the principal euphonium chair in the Wind Symphony. He studied euphonium at the Queensland University of Technology and has been playing piano since the age of eight. David is the Founding President and Musical Director of the Queensland Wind Orchestra, one of Australia’s leading wind bands, and is the conductor of Brisbane’s Westside Orchestra. Additionally, David has recently guest conducted seasons for the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Ignite Choir, and was the guest conductor of the Wind Orchestra as part of Griffith University’s Australian Honours Ensemble Program from 2019 to 2021.

David has been an invited clinician, consultant and conductor for Queensland Music Festival’s Cape York Instrumental Program, has been a guest conductor with Griffith University’s State Honours Ensemble Program throughout Queensland, and has been a sectional lecturer with the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra. David regularly conducts various school honour bands and workshops across Queensland, and has presented at local and national conferences on developing and maintaining successful school band programs. Additionally, David has adjudicated at state and national competitions including the West Australian Schools’ Concert Band Festival, the Queensland Catholic Music Festival and Queensland’s MusicFest.

He has worked as Music Director, Conductor and Pianist with various musical theatre organisations throughout Brisbane and has trained in Music Direction at the multiple-Tony-Award®-winning Goodspeed Musical Theatre Institute in Connecticut, USA. David has also delivered adult and youth workshops for Opera Queensland as part of their Sing with Opera Queensland program.

David is currently the Head of Performance Music at Redeemer Lutheran College, where he directs a number of award-winning wind bands, string orchestras and vocal ensembles.

Josh Cohen https://www.squarely.com.au
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