SBSYWE is a wind symphony for woodwinds, brass, and percussion students ages 14 to 21 from the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. Instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion and double bass.
“We’ve been looking for creative ways to supplement the great music education that our young students already get in the San Bernardino School District,” says San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor, Anthony Parnther. “But in addition to that, we have resources and assets that we want to share with our community, and the greatest of those is our new SBSO Youth Wind Ensemble Director, Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, who brings a long track record of excellence and dedication to our organization. We’re tremendously excited about implementing and growing a premier youth group that our region can be proud of.”
A champion of new wind band works and works by underrepresented composers, Dr. Bratcher, who also serves as director of bands at California State University San Bernardino, plans to provide a unique artistic experience to members of the ensemble.
“Having a Youth Wind Ensemble of this potential caliber will be huge for our area,” Bratcher says. “This new ensemble will provide a great way for young musicians to improve their skills, perform with some of the best students in the region, and grow not only as musicians, but as human beings through the wind band medium.”
The Spring Semester of the 2021-2022 academic year will mark the inaugural season of the ensemble. Applications are currently being accepted and auditions will be held in the coming weeks.
The SBSYWE will provide two concerts per academic year. The first concert is scheduled for June 5, 2022, with rehearsals beginning in early April.
Information: www.sanbernardinosymphony.org
Photo courtesy San Bernardino Symphony Association
