Winnipeg Youth Wind Ensemble
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.
Matt Neufeld
Artistic Director, Conductor
A graduate of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, Matt Neufeld (b. 1985) does his best to compose, teach and play music for as many people as he can convince or coerce.
Matt spends most of his days writing music from his studio at home in Winnipeg, and maintains a full schedule of composing, performing, serving as a guest conductor and clinician, and procrastinating by starting just one more farm in Stardew Valley.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys competitive board gaming, playing his wife's favourite songs on the piano in ways that do NOT endear him to her, and having his three children try to beat him at Mario Kart.