LUUMS Symphonic Wind Orchestra, more fondly known as SWO, is one of LUUMS’ larger auditioned orchestras and is open to students from the University of Leeds, Leeds College of Music and Leeds Beckett University. The orchestra performs in three concerts a year: one at Christmas, one in the summer, as well as in the Auditioned Ensembles Showcase. This year SWO joined with the Symphony Orchestra for a tour to Amsterdam which was great fun, and we will be going on tour again next year to another exciting destination yet to be announced!

The Orchestra has previously performed many works ranging from orchestral transcriptions of Holst and Bernstein, to playful film and theatre medleys, and of course works specifically written for wind ensembles from composers such as Samuel Hazo, Philip Sparke and Eric Whitacre. The programme for this year contains a variety of engaging and challenging works to showcase the musicianship of our members.

Roaring brass, flittering winds and racy percussion – SWO aims to be fun as well as demanding, so a work hard, play hard mentality is one we pride ourselves on. Weekly trips to the pub after rehearsals and SWOcials help the ensemble to get to know one another so we can all have a great time. This ensemble may seem refined and serious on its exterior but deep down it’s a warm hub of friendship, fun and professional development.

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Auditions for the Symphonic Wind Orchestra 2019/20 have now closed. Thank you to everyone who auditioned, and congratulations to this year's band!

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Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30pm

Rehearsal Hall, School of Music

To find out when our next concert is, click here:

Esme Turner 

Manager

Esme is going into her sixth year at the University of Leeds, studying Medicine and is a veteran member of LUUMS having been apart of SWO since her first year in 2014. Despite having her heart set on playing the Bassoon, she was disappointed to learn that this was an impractical pipe dream for a smaller than average six-year-old and was instead handed a second-hand flute by her local primary school. She has stuck with the flute for the past 18 years, playing in local and national orchestras, however has avoided the piccolo at all costs. Esme is also a keen climber, runner and knitter and gets through life on caffeine and peanut butter.

Tom Sangster

Conductor

Tom is this year's SWO conductor and a second year BA music student at the University of Leeds. Primarily a saxophonist, he has performed all over the country with numerous ensembles and went on tour to France last year with the LUU Big Band and to Amsterdam with SWO. It is Tom's ambition to become a professional conductor one day. He has conducted his college's orchestra in his own concert as part of the Gold Arts award scheme and this year he is taking the conducting module and a music direction diploma. It is his dream to one day conduct the BBCSO at the Last Night of the Proms.

Molly Bradley

Manager

Molly is a flautist currently in her second year of study for a BA in Music. Last year, she thoroughly enjoyed being a part of LUUMS, and performed with both SWO and Symphony Orchestra throughout the year and on their recent summer tour in the Netherlands.

As an enthusiastic ensemble player, Molly was a member of her local county youth orchestras in South Wales for many years, and is also an alumnus of both the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales. She also is a keen chamber musician, and has often performed in small ensembles of different sizes – from duet to octet.

Aside from an enthusiasm for music and performing, Molly is crazy about cute dogs, likes walks in the countryside and enjoys the occasional fancy cocktail!