About WYWE

The Winnipeg Youth Wind Ensemble was established in 2016 by Dr. Jacquie Dawson and members of the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble. WYWE provides enrichment opportunities in music for young musicians who wish to gain experience and establish relationships beyond their school band experience.

WYWE is a partner ensemble with the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble. The Winnipeg Wind Ensemble was formed in the fall of 1985 by band directors and other professional musicians dedicated to bringing wind band music of the highest quality to Winnipeg audiences. The ensemble has been a guest on the Prairie Performances concert series and performed at the Winnipeg New Music Festival, International Music Camp Summer Concerts, Optimist International Band Festival, Manitoba Provincial Honour Band Concert, and the Mennonite Schools Festival in addition to the presentation of an annual concert series. (https://www.winnipegwindensemble.ca/)

WYWE annually presents fall and spring concerts as well as performing alongside the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble in February. Students in WYWE also participate in workshops and collaborations with members of the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble, the University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble and conducting students in the University of Manitoba's Desautels Faculty of Music.

Darryl Ferguson

Artistic Director, Conductor

Darryl Ferguson received a Bachelor of Music (Applied Trumpet) from Brandon University, a Master’s of Music (Trumpet Performance) from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Manitoba. He currently teaches at Acadia School in Winnipeg, MB, where he directs four concert bands and a jazz ensemble.

Under his direction, the Acadia band program consistently receives recognition for outstanding performance at festivals across western Canada and the northern United States. The school’s ensembles regularly achieve superior ratings for their festival performances, and are invited to participate at MusicFest Canada. Darryl co-directs MusicFest Canada's Soho Sound Canadian Junior Honour Band, and initiative for outstanding young musicians across Canada.

In 2021, Darryl was awarded the Manitoba Band Association's Award of Distinction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba. In 2018, Darryl was awarded the Fort Richmond MLA Community Hero Certificate for his service in the community.

As a trumpet player, Darryl’s major private teachers include Henry Christian, Alan Ehnes, and Jay Coble. He has also worked in lessons and/or masterclasses with Vincent Cichowicz, Don Owens, Larry Knopp, James Thompson, Laurie Frink, John McNeil and Ray Sasaki. He has performed with the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble, the Winnipeg Brass Quintet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and the Cambridge Brass Quintet.

Darryl is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor, clinician, and freelance trumpet player. He also serves as a sessional instructor and applied trumpet teacher at Canadian Mennonite University. He also is the conductor of the Rupertsland Brass Band (www.rupertslandbrass.ca) . He has completed Level One of the Canadian Wind Conductors Development Program.