YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE

The San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (SBSYWE) is a new music education initiative from the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. The SBSYWE provides a nurturing and creative environment where young musicians can grow musically and holistically through performance.

SBSYWE is a wind symphony for woodwinds, brass, and percussion students ranging from ages 14 to 21 and representing the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley, and surrounding areas.

Instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, and double bass. The Spring Semester of the 2021-2022 academic year will mark the inaugural season of the ensemble under the artistic leadership of Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, director of bands at California State University San Bernardino. A champion of new wind band works and works by underrepresented minority composers, Dr. Bratcher plans to provide a high-quality artistic experience to members of the ensemble. Students in the SBSYWE are offered free or discounted tickets to San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra concerts throughout the season.

Normally, the SBSYWE will provide two concerts per academic year. Performances are presented at San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium. Rehearsals are held on select Sundays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at San Bernardino Valley College Band Rehearsal Room. The first concert is scheduled for June 5, 2022, with rehearsals beginning in early April.

SPRING 2022 WIND ENSEMBLE CALENDAR

Rehearsals will take place in the San Bernardino Valley College Band Rehearsal Hall. Rehearsals will begin at 2:00 PM and end at 5:00 PM. The 2021-2022 Rehearsal calendar (Spring Semester) is as follows:

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Sunday, May 22, 2022

The concert is set for Sunday, June 5, 2022, at 2:00 PM.

The call time for students is 12:00 PM.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Auditions for participating in the San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble for the Spring 2022 season will be by virtual submission at the link below. Download audition excerpts here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xWQq8YdIBujAMP2Htz9_m0BoZKqkGOaT?usp=sharing

Woodwind and Brass players should prepare the following

Chromatic Scale over the full range of the instrument
Prepared Excerpts (Bracketed Sections only)

Percussionists should prepare the excerpts on the snare, timpani, and keyboard mallets and attach them using the audition submission form. Percussion parts in the ensemble will rotate, so percussionists should be well-rounded in each category.

Please submit your audition video on or before the end of the day on April 8, 2022.

Please submit your audition video here: https://tinyurl.com/YWEaudition

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

Tuition for the 2021–2022 half-season is $125. Payment in full is due by the first rehearsal. If you need to set up a payment plan, a request may be made to our office at ywe@sanbernardinosymphony.org. You can also email us for more information.

Need-based financial aid is available to students who require financial assistance. Please contact us for further information.

Full payment, payment plan set up, or scholarship approval needs to be received by the first rehearsal of each concert cycle. Up-to-date financial status is a requirement for participation in the Youth Wind Ensemble.

CONTACT INFORMATION

San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble

PO Box 109

San Bernardino, CA 92402

ywe@sanbernardinosymphony.org

Wind Ensemble Conductor

Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, Director of Bands

California State University, San Bernardino

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

(A copy of the full SBSYWE Handbook may be viewed here.)

Rehearsals:

Students will check rehearsal and performance schedules and resolve potential conflicts in advance. (See the attendance policy below.)
Students will warm up prior to rehearsal and be seated in the rehearsal or concert hall 15 minutes prior to all engagements.
Students will be prepared with the requisite technique to make music at every rehearsal, having practiced and prepared their music at home.
Students will be prepared for rehearsal with all necessary rehearsal tools, including instruments, sheet music, pencils, mutes, and other accessories. Percussionists will provide their own variety of mallets.
Students will keep the rehearsal room clean, organized, and secure. All chairs and stands will be returned to the racks after rehearsal. Percussionists will be responsible for the set-up and tear down of all percussion equipment before and after rehearsals and performances.
No food or drink (save water) is allowed in the rehearsal room or concert hall at any time.

Concerts:

Students will warm up prior to the concert and will be seated in the concert hall 15 minutes prior to the call time.
Students will be prepared for the concert with all necessary rehearsal tools, including instruments, sheet music, pencils, mutes, and other accessories. Percussionists will provide their own variety of mallets.
No food or drink (save water) is allowed in the concert hall at any time.
Concert attire:
- Option A: Black dress slacks, black dress shoes, black socks, long-sleeved black dress shirt, plain black tie. Athletic shoes, track shoes, and jeans (or jean-like trousers) are NOT acceptable.
- Option B: Long black dress or skirt (at or below the knee) or black dress pants. Mini-skirts and jean-like pants are NOT acceptable. If wearing a skirt, black/off-black nylons are required, along with a minimum 3/4-sleeved black blouse with a conservative neck, neatly pressed and tucked in. NO sweaters, bare shoulders, or midriffs. Black shoes. NO sandals, open-toed, tennis, or track shoes. Please make all jewelry selections and hair adornments unobtrusive.
- Check out concertblack.com for ideas!

Attendance Policy:

Attendance and active participation at all rehearsals and performances is essential to the success of any ensemble. Participating students are required to attend all SBSYWE events. Excused absences for illness, family emergencies, or unavoidable conflicts with school commitments or major life events are permitted, provided that the student follows the outline below:

To request an absence for a known school or major life event, please submit an “Absence Request Form” a minimum of two weeks prior to the absence. Forms are available on the SBSYWE website. The form must state the reason for the absence and be submitted to the Program Manager for approval. The Program Manager will discuss the absence request with the conductor, and students and parents will be notified if the request is not approved, or if the number of absences is excessive. While two weeks advance notice is the minimum requirement for the absence requests, students are encouraged to submit forms for all known conflicts at the beginning of each season (i.e. weddings, Bar-Mitzvahs, etc.).
If a student is absent or late and did not submit an “Absence Request Form” before the absence, they must submit an email to the Program Manager before the next rehearsal. In the event of illness or last-minute family emergencies, please contact the Program Manager immediately.
Please note: an email of explanation from a parent/guardian for participants under the age of 17 MUST follow all unanticipated absences and must be submitted before the next rehearsal. Attendance will be taken at each rehearsal and parents/guardians will be notified of all unexcused absences via email.
Excessive tardiness or attendance problems will jeopardize future participation in SBSYWE.
Students with an unexcused absence for the dress rehearsal or concert, or who have more than one unexcused absence, may be subject to immediate removal from the ensemble, forfeiting tuition.

Instruments and Equipment:

All SBSYWE students are responsible for their own instruments. Lost, stolen, or damaged instruments or accessories are not the responsibility of SBSYWE.
Sheet music and folders will be collected at the end of each concert and students will be held financially responsible for any lost or damaged music folders.
Percussionists are required to provide their own mallets and sticks. All San Bernardino Valley College equipment must be returned to the storage space before leaving rehearsals and concerts.

School Participation Policy:

SBSYWE is committed to a partnership with regional public and private schools. Except in rare circumstances where no music program exists, all SBSYWE members are encouraged to participate in their respective school music programs, preferably in the concert band. SBSYWE also encourages its members to audition for honor bands, participate in solo and ensemble festivals, and take private studio lessons.

Want to Support a Student?

Student tuition is assessed in order that this program can be self-supporting, but not every student can afford to pay. You can support an SBSYWE student by making a donation of any amount. Click on

Support A Student

Then select "Support a Youth Wind Ensemble Member" from the drop-down menu. Thank you!