Ensemble Student Leadership Opportunities

It is an underlying ensemble philosophy that students should have opportunities to develop leadership skills. This is a primary reason for the policy of rotating part assignments. There are a number of additional ways in which students may develop leadership skills as a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Each section has a student leader, who is selected primarily by seniority as determined from the number of semesters of experience in the group. Section leaders have the discretion to address musical issues noted during rehearsal and are also responsible for communicating section personnel and part assignment issues to the director. On occasion, section leaders may be asked to run sectional rehearsals in the director's absence.

One senior who has extensive experience with the ensemble is asked by the director to serve as Concertmaster. The concertmaster is responsible for coordinating tuning at rehearsals and concerts, and is in charge of the ensemble on stage in the director's absence. In addition, the concertmaster may act as a "go-between" between members and the director.

An upperclass student, required to be a music major and typically having some previous experience in conducting, is selected by the director to be the Student Assistant Director. This person generally conducts one piece per concert and is also responsible for directing rehearsals and sectionals as delegated by the director. This student is required to take independent study in conducting with the director.

The distribution of music and maintenance of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble library is the responsibility of the Librarian, who is selected by the director upon application for the post by interested students. This is a paid position, via work study.