LUUMS Symphonic Wind Orchestra, known affectionally as “SWO”, is an auditioned ensemble of the finest wind and percussion players studying in Leeds. As well as performing concert band staples, we also tackle contemporary wind band music and orchestral transcriptions. Recent performances have included music by Whitacre, Bernstein, Tichelli and Sparke. We rehearse every Wednesday in term time (7:30-9:30) in School of Music.

We also have several socials (SWOcials) throughout the year, suggestions of fun activities always welcome! We perform 3-4 times a year and end the year by teaming up with Symphony Orchestra on a European tour, most recently to Amsterdam and Paris. This year we hope to tackle music by Grainger, Arnold, Respighi and Holst, including a few arrangements especially made for the ensemble. The programme for this year contains a variety of engaging and challenging works to showcase the musicianship of our members.

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

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Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30pm

Rehearsal Hall, School of Music

swo.luums@gmail.com

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

Emma Gazard

Manager

Emma is a final year Music student from Buckinghamshire. She began playing clarinet and saxophone in primary school and has continued ever since. She has always loved being part of ensembles, especially the performance and tour opportunities that arose from these experiences. This is her second consecutive year of managing SWO, and she is looking forward to (finally!) being able to return to rehearsals and concerts in person. Her aim is to recreate the welcoming, passionate and positive environment she was introduced to two years ago when first joining LUUMs, so that members both new and old can enjoy a range of styles the way they were always meant to be played- together.

Tom Sangster

Conductor

Tom is a fourth year music performance student and is excited to be back conducting SWO again, following a year studying music in Germany. Whilst he primarily plays the saxophone, Tom first became interested in conducting whilst at Eastbourne College where he received a private masterclass with the principal conductor of the Arensky Chamber Orchestra, Will Kundhardt. Since then, Tom has gone on to explore the role of the conductor through organising and managing orchestras and small ensembles, researching its history and developing his technique with a number of maestros.

Tom’s involvement with SWO began in his first year where he played tenor saxophone as head of the section. He is really looking forward to continuing from his first tenure as conductor of the orchestra, which was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, and is most looking forward to (hopefully) taking the orchestra on tour!

Chris Field

Manager

Chris is a Physics MRes student (previously BSc Biochemistry) at the University of Leeds. Though he started his musical journey with the guitar, at age 6, he started playing what would become his main instrument, the clarinet, a year later. Since then, he has also dabbled in playing piano, bass guitar, bass clarinet and drums. Throughout his time in Leeds, Chris has become increasingly involved with LUUMS, joining Sinfonia in his first year, SWO in his second and Concert Band in his third, and he now feels it’s time to give back to this wonderful society! You can usually find him hiding somewhere quiet with his headphones on or sat outside Roger Stevens watching the ducks.