About the Symphonic Wind Ensemble

The Wichita State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) is one of the premier university bands in the country having achieved this reputation through national, regional and local convention and conference performance invitations along with annually presenting concerts with conductors and soloists of international acclaim.

With a flexible instrumentation, it regularly enrolls the finest graduate and undergraduate music majors and music minors in the WSU School of Music. While full band literature is the mainstay of the ensemble’s repertoire, there is a major emphasis on ensemble literature for instrumentation from octets to 35-members from various historical genres and periods.

The SWE 65-student personnel yearly is as follows: 15 graduate students, 20 seniors, 15 juniors, 10 sophomores, 5 freshmen. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is open to any student in the university by audition, regardless of major, that can meet the ensembles rigorous performance standard.

Under the direction of Dr. Victor A. Markovich, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble has been invited/performed at the following events:

• College Band Directors National Association National Convention (1997 and 2007)
• Music Educators National Conference (1992 and 1996)
• American Bandmasters Association National Convention (2002)
• Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshops (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, and 2005)
• Kansas Bandmasters Association (1991, 1992, and 1993)

Symphonic Wind Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule

Every semester, the schedule for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble is as follows:

Mondays – 1:30pm – 3:20pm
Wednesdays – 1:30pm – 3:20pm
Fridays – 1:30pm – 2:20pm

For students interested in performing in both the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the WSU Symphony Orchestra or Concert Band, the rehearsals for these ensembles do not conflict.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble Audition Information

Click here to see information about how to audition for WSU's Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Photo Gallery

Click here to see more pictures of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.