Specialist ensemble

Wind Symphonic Ensemble (WSE)

For wind, brass, and percussion players working toward college auditions and the classical and contemporary repertoire.

Portrait · a wind or brass player, close on embouchure

About the program

Not a marching band.

COS Wind Symphonic Ensemble (WSE), unlike a marching band, is an ensemble dedicated to teaching young wind, brass, and percussion musicians to perform the classical and contemporary repertoire. Through original works and well-selected arrangements for the ensemble, the students will be able to tackle auditions for college admission as a stepping stone toward a professional career in music. They will be mentored by our dedicated and extraordinary faculty for an optimal learning experience, focusing on developing musicianship and technical mastery. The ensemble will perform its own program during biannual COS orchestral concerts.

At a glance

WSE

Instruments

Wind, brass, and percussion

Aimed at

Players preparing for college auditions

Meets

Saturdays, 4:30 to 5:30pm

Conductors

Adrian Gutiérrez and Enzo Cetti

Room

Classroom 3

Performs

Its own program during the biannual COS concerts

Times, room, and faculty are from the published 2025-26 Saturday schedule and are rechecked each season.

See the whole Saturday

Wide · Wind Symphonic Ensemble in Classroom 3

A wind or brass player, close

Alongside your orchestra

How WSE fits a Saturday.

WSE is a specialist ensemble rather than a rung on the orchestral ladder. Wind, brass, and percussion players take it alongside JSE or YSE, and it runs late in the day so it does not clash with the main orchestra rehearsals.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS NEEDED

The copy aims WSE at students preparing for college auditions, which implies a level, but no entry standard is stated anywhere. COS needs to say what a player should already be able to do, and whether WSE is open to any wind player or only to those in JSE and YSE.

Play a wind, brass, or percussion instrument?

Start with an audition and faculty will place your child in the right orchestra, then build the rest of the Saturday around it.

Start with an audition

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