About
Under the direction of Dr. Amy Acklin, the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony will launch its inaugural season in January 2025 as the premiere honor wind band in surrounding KY, IN, and OH areas. Its purpose is to provide artistry level musical experiences for advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion high school students. Performing Grade 5 and Grade 6 collegiate and professional level repertoire, the LYWS will engage with masterworks and new music for full band and chamber ensemble. The LYWS is proud to serve in residence at the University of Louisville School of Music as an outreach program of the University of Louisville Bands.
Diversity
The Louisville Youth Wind Symphony is committed to building a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and will strive to uphold the tenets of the University of Louisville’s Vision for Diversity:
The University of Louisville strives to foster and sustain an environment of inclusiveness that empowers us all to achieve our highest potential without fear of prejudice or bias. We commit ourselves to building an exemplary educational community that offers a nurturing and challenging intellectual climate, a respect for the spectrum of human diversity, and a genuine understanding of the many differences-including race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and religion-that enrich a vibrant metropolitan research university.
Inaugural Season Highlights:
Composer-In-Residence
The LYWS is excited to announce its first composer-in-residence, John Mackey, who will join the students of the LYWS for a weekend rehearsal intensive and the concert performance of his monumental Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band. John Mackey is one of the most prolific wind band composers of our time. His Wine-Dark Sea Symphony is an intense 30-minute work at the professional level and a nod to Homer’s Greek epic poem The Odyssey. A full bio of John Mackey, including more information about Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band can be found at: https://www.johnmackey.com/
Timeline
- August 1, 2024: LYWS Application opens
- Mid-August: Audition excerpts available
- September 27, 2024: Application deadline
- October 4, 2024: Video Recorded Audition deadline
- November 1, 2024: Applicants notified of status via email
- December 1, 2024: Tuition deadline
- December 7, 2024: Concerto Competition Audition
- January 5, 2025: First rehearsal & Parent meeting
- May 10, 2025: Dress rehearsal with composer John Mackey
- May 11, 2025: Concert
Concerto Competition
The Louisville Youth Wind Symphony is honored to partner with the Louisville Concert Band to host its inaugural Concerto Competition and provide a solo performance opportunity with this professional ensemble. All LYWS students are eligible to audition. The winning student will be chosen through a competitive audition process and perform with the Louisville Concert Band on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
AUDITION DETAILS
- Students must be currently enrolled in the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony.
- Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students are eligible to apply.
- Students must be available for the rehearsals during the evenings of January 12, February 2, and February 16, 2025 and the performance date (February 23, 2025, 2 PM) with the Louisville Concert Band.
- Repertoire may include a solo, concerto, or selected movement(s) from a multi-movement work. Repertoire selections of the winning performer must be approved by the Music Directors of the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony and the Louisville Concert Band.
- Students will have 10 minutes of performance time allowed during the audition.
- A piano accompanist at the audition is optional.
- Chosen work must have an available band accompaniment available to rent or purchase.
- An application link with audition times will be sent on November 1 to all LYWS members.
- Audition Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024 (In-person at UofL School of Music)