Ensembles and Orchestra
WYO offers five core ensembles, along with optional Winter Chamber and Summer Chamber Music Camp programs. Each season features three main concerts—Fall, Winter, and Spring—plus an outreach performance for the Arc of Williamsburg. New member and placement auditions take place in August, with additional opportunities for students to audition before each concert cycle and join throughout the season. To learn more about how students progress through WYO’s ensembles, please scroll to the bottom of the page for a diagram and detailed explanation of the ensemble pathway.
Symphony Orchestra (WYOSO)
The Symphony Orchestra (WYOSO) is designed for highly advanced high school musicians and includes all orchestral instruments except the harp. Under the direction of Dr. David Grandis, who also serves as the music director of the William & Mary Symphony Orchestra, WYOSO brings together talented students from Williamsburg and beyond to perform standard symphonic repertoire.
Recent programs have featured works by Beethoven, Stravinsky, Bizet, Haydn, Mascagni, Mozart, Schubert, and Vaughan Williams. A highlight of the Winter Concert is the performance of WYO’s Concerto Competition winner, who plays a solo accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra. The Spring Concert often includes film music by composers such as John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, and Hans Zimmer.
Every other year, WYOSO collaborates with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra for a Side-by-Side Concert, offering students the unique opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians.
Additionally, WYO provides an exclusive opportunity for advanced junior and senior students to take conducting lessons with Dr. Grandis, with the potential to lead the Symphony Orchestra in rehearsals and performances. At the start of the season, Dr. Grandis selects a candidate based on their knowledge of music theory and advanced musicianship. The mentorship includes a one-hour private lesson each week, and students must pass an evaluation covering basic triads, tonalities, rhythmic reading, and clef proficiency. Interested students should contact the Executive Director for more information.
Wind Ensemble (WYOWE)
Wind Ensemble (WYOWE) is advanced ensemble for dedicated high school wind and brass musicians. This group offers students the opportunity to perform challenging and diverse repertoire that emphasizes both technical precision and expressive depth. Together, members work to create a refined, dynamic ensemble sound while developing their individual artistry in a collaborative setting.
WYOWE performs advanced works from the wind band repertoire, allowing students to deepen their skills in musical interpretation, stylistic awareness, and high-level performance. This ensemble prepares students for collegiate and competitive musical opportunities, fostering growth in both musicianship and teamwork.
The ensemble includes all wind and brass students from the WYO Symphony Orchestra, as well as students who participate exclusively in this ensemble.
We are recruiting all wind and brass players, especially oboe, bassoon, saxophone (alto, tenor, baritone), euphonium, trombone, tuba, and percussion, to perform exciting and challenging repertoire while refining technical and artistic skills.
Concert Strings Ensemble
Concert String is an entry-level to early intermediate ensemble for students in grades 3–7, led by Mrs. Rebecca Nixon, orchestra teacher at Toano Middle School. Open to violin, viola, cello, and bass players, the ensemble is designed for young musicians with a solid foundation in note reading and rhythm. Students develop essential skills in technique, intonation, tone production, rhythm, and ensemble balance while exploring string orchestra repertoire. Rehearsals also emphasize musicianship and etiquette.
Chamber Strings Ensemble
Chamber String is for intermediate middle and high school musicians looking to take on more challenging repertoire. Also led by Mrs. Nixon, this ensemble helps students refine their technical skills while exploring various musical eras, styles, and composers. Musicians focus on the complexities of ensemble performance, developing greater precision, musicality, and artistry.
Concert Band
Concert Band is the first ensemble in the progression designed to prepare students for advancement to either Wind Ensemble (WYOWE) or Symphony Orchestra (WYOSO). It serves wind, brass, and percussion players from 6th grade through early high school with 1–3 years of experience. Led by Mr. Jordan Stehle, the ensemble focuses on strengthening foundational and intermediate skills through chamber-style repertoire that bridges the gap between method books and full concert works.
Beginner students—primarily in 6th grade—who need extra support will meet for a 30-minute session before the regular rehearsal. This additional time helps students build confidence with rhythms, key signatures, and ensemble playing, laying the groundwork for success in WYO’s advanced ensembles.
A highlight of the program is the annual side-by-side concert with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, where students perform alongside experienced musicians.
WYO students from 3rd through 12th grade progress through a structured ensemble pathway, ultimately advancing to the Symphony Orchestra or Wind Ensemble. All students must be able to read music and typically have at least one year of school-based instruction or private lessons.
Wind, brass, and percussion students usually begin in Concert Band. For those at the beginner level, WYO offers an additional 30 minutes of specialized instruction to help them build foundational skills and catch up with the rest of the ensemble. While Concert Band includes students at varied playing levels, repertoire is carefully selected to offer appropriate parts for beginners through advanced players.
When ready, Concert Band students have two options for advancement: Wind Ensemble or Symphony Orchestra. Students auditioning for Symphony Orchestra must commit to two hours of rehearsal—one hour with the full Symphony Orchestra and a second hour with the Wind Ensemble. Students who choose only Wind Ensemble will rehearse for one hour. Please note that all wind and brass students accepted into the Symphony Orchestra are automatically enrolled in the Wind Ensemble. Students interested in auditioning for the Symphony Orchestra or Wind Ensemble may indicate this on the audition request application.
String players (violin, viola, cello, bass) typically begin in Concert Strings. The next level is Chamber Strings, where students usually spend 2–3 years developing their skills. When ready, they may audition for the Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Orchestra string players rehearse for two full hours—first with the full orchestra, then in a strings-only rehearsal during the second hour.