top of page

LUUMS Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SWO) 2023/24

The LUUMS Symphonic Wind Orchestra, more affectionately known as SWO, is an auditioned ensemble composed of the finest wind and percussion musicians studying in Leeds. Last year, we played a variety of exciting and challenging repertoire, including music by Phillip Sparke, film score medleys such as La La La Land, and the big band classic ‘Sing Sing Sing’. One of our main achievements last year was successfully tackling Franco Cesarini’s Symphony No.2 ‘Views of Edo’. This year we plan to continue focusing on exciting repertoire, with plans to take on Bert Appermont’s Noah’s Ark and Hirose Hayato’s Tower of Babel etc.

 

We rehearse every Wednesday evening from 19:15-21:30 in the School of Music during term time. SWO performs 3-4 times throughout the academic year, and at the end of the last semester, SWO is joined with the Symphony Orchestra on a summer tour, providing the perfect opportunity to play in and visit European countries. Most recent destinations include Belgium and Scotland, with plans of possibly visiting France or Austria in the coming summer.

 

 

We are a friendly and welcoming ensemble and plan to do several socials (SWOcials) throughout the year and of course will continue the much loved trips to Old Bar after every rehearsal. We can’t wait to start the year!

 

For more information about auditions or the ensemble, email Jess or Ruby at swo.luums@gmail.com.

​

​

Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30pm

Rehearsal Hall, School of Music

swo.luums@gmail.com

324841675_546397927413041_3707068910448478555_n
324726594_434421352143334_3930577863655388547_n
357790609_751807030281630_539991074881166479_n
324335712_1224272798441256_1574691986327898207_n
324739345_1538379019970979_5266343210180439472_n
324714511_488493713430810_7126349424224201157_n
364074363_753627203432946_5813123110784156573_n
364053945_753627120099621_7946911015526743795_n
356158047_751806896948310_6915457326257420538_n
324836530_1577780112674011_6164200579372373726_n
364038015_753626576766342_9025997660438331092_n
324725607_2331793823656721_2816597028140114171_n
24296828_1795652043801888_71423023817631
34810089_2000041866696237_49899370107277
34817681_2000043096696114_32185390300858
34750934_2000042506696173_43850004362732
34670862_2000044200029337_87912457392976
34700704_2000043723362718_64388019397853
28377931_1890646140969144_54871543197814
28575655_1890644310969327_66327731818266
24312401_1795653813801711_10606126836326
28378536_1890643734302718_27826857993446
28576672_1890643774302714_74466505237822
IMG_5032.JPG

Ryan Lam 

Conductor 

​

Ryan Lam is a 4th year student that studies Music and Music Psychology. He began learning the trombone in his homeland of Hong Kong at age 11, and while studying trombone, he picked up an interest in studying music. Being the trombone section leader of his school’s wind orchestra in Hong Kong, he has played in numerous venues including the Hong Kong City Hall and Hong Kong University. He specialises in concert band and wind orchestra performance, which within his school’s wind orchestra, competed in the Hong Kong School Music Festival annually with great results, until he left home to further study music in the United Kingdom. Other than wind orchestra and concert band, he has also picked up big band and orchestral playing while studying music, and has performed in the Cheltenham Jazz Festival with his school group. 

 

Since Joining LUUMS last year, he has played and performed in many ensembles including Sinfonia, Brass Band and Concert Band. Although an active member of these ensembles, he has taken most interest and dedication to the Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Following last year’s great success, he aims to continue the spirit of SWO; one that is challenging but fun and rewarding for musicians. Although he is new to conducting, he will be working alongside his great team of mangers to bring more colour and energy to SWO with fun repertoires and exciting opportunities.

IMG_5033.JPG

Jessica White (she/her)

Manager

​

Jess is a second year Geography student from Surrey. Jess started out playing the piano and clarinet and in recent years has picked up the saxophone. Throughout school and college she has loved playing in a range of groups from orchestras to jazz bands. This included tours to Barcelona and Munich. During this time Jess also played in the Southwest Surrey Youth Orchestra, taking part in a number of concerts.

Jess has really enjoyed her time in LUUMS over the past year being a part of SWO and concert band. She loved playing a variety of repertoire and is looking forward to planning some new and exciting repertoire this year. She has also loved the classic trips to old bar after rehearsals and can’t wait to carry on the tradition with SWO this year as well as organising socials (SWOcials)!

IMG_5034.JPG

Ruby Davies (she/her)

Manager

​

Ruby is a 3rd year Biological Sciences student from Worcestershire. She started playing oboe at the age of 11 when she realized the woodwind section looked like they were having way more fun than the violins and can now confirm this is 100% true. She also began singing lessons around this time and spent much of her school years playing in orchestras and singing in choir, as well as founding the Ukulele club and playing in the Worcestershire Youth Orchestra.

Since coming to Uni, she has been heavily involved in LUUMS, playing in 5 ensembles in her 2nd year including the Symphony and Symphonic Wind Orchestras, and is excited to be more involved with the management side of things and working with the rest of the SWEAM (SWO team), as well as the many after rehearsal Old Bar visits to come.

bottom of page