San Antonio Youth Wind Ensembles (SAYWE)

The San Antonio Youth Wind Ensemble (SAYWE) was founded in 2010 as the premier honor wind ensemble for youth in the San Antonio and surrounding areas. Its mission is to provide a positive musical experience for advanced instrumentalists in wind and percussion performance. The program serves as a supplement to the outstanding music education programs in the public and private schools in the region.

In January 2010, SAYWE began with 35 members.

Currently, we have one performing ensemble.

The season runs from early November through the end of June.

Any band instrumentalist (woodwind, brass, and percussion) who is between the ages of 12 through 20 as of September 1, 2023)

Register for an audition below.

Audition Registration

Auditions will be held on weekends in October:

Watson Fine Arts Center, Room 104 at St. Philip's College. 1801 Martin Luther King Drive, San Antonio, TX. 78203

Woodwind and Brass: should prepare approximately 3-4 total minutes of music consisting of two contrasting excerpts (one fast/technical and one slow/lyrical) from the standard solo and/or etude repertoire for their instrument. Selected major & chromatic scales will be asked, and sight-reading will be provided.

Percussionists: should prepare an excerpt from two out of the three of the following: snare, mallets (2 or 4 mallets), and timpani. Rudiments, scales, and timpani tuning will also be demonstrated.

In addition to standard wind ensemble/concert band instrumentation, the SAYWE seeks performers on Piano, String Bass, and Harp. Students who play multiple instruments (e.g. piccolo and flute, clarinet and bass clarinet, any of the saxophones, etc.) should indicate so at the audition, although only one audition is necessary. Students are evaluated on the basis of tone quality, intonation, technique, timing, rhythmic accuracy, musicianship, expressiveness, and reading ability.

Audition results will be emailed/posted on November 1, 2023.

You can schedule an audition by contacting the Resident Conductor, Mr. Roderick Leonard.

His contact information is: rleonard1108@gmail.com or rleonard11@alamo.edu

Office phone is 210/486-2326; Cell phone is: 210/385-3148

Similar programs of this caliber charge in excess of $750 a season, plus an audition fee and a down payment. The tuition for the San Antonio Youth Wind Ensemble is only $200.00 for the season.

• $200.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT is due November 4th.

We will offer on-site registration at rehearsal on November 4th.

Saturdays: SAYWE meets mostly on Saturday Mornings.

An official Calendar will be posted by 11/1/2023.

SAYWE administration is supportive of the primary music programs in San Antonio. If a conflict exists between the students’ primary program and SAYWE, we support the choice of the primary program event. We need the support of our region’s band directors. We do ask that you notify us once you are aware of a conflict.