Youth Wind Ensemble of Springfield (YWES)
About YWES
Dive into a world where community spirit and exceptional musicianship come together!
The Youth Wind Ensemble of Springfield is more than just a group of talented young musicians; it’s a vibrant community dedicated to cultivating skill, passion, and creativity. With no auditions, our ensemble provides a nurturing environment to enhance your technique, explore diverse musical genres, and perform with others from across the community.
CMSS’ Youth Wind Ensemble of Springfield (YWES) brings together the most outstanding wind, brass and percussion high school students from communities and schools in the greater Springfield area to create a premier honors ensemble. YWES uses standard wind ensemble instrumentation with a goal to provide students with an aesthetic, artistic experience to supplement their school band experience. Students are exposed to challenging repertoire that meet the needs of musicians who aspire to advance their musical skills. The group showcases its hard work in a series of concerts throughout the year. The focus of YWES is on developing high level musical leadership skills and artistry that students can bring back to their respective school programs and ensembles. Through this purpose, students in YWES give back to their own school ensembles while growing their own individual musicianship. We are seeking motivated, talented students to join YWES in its musical journey. Music educators are encouraged to recommend their top tier players for this honors group.
Scholarships are available for students enrolled in private lessons at CMSS and students who participate in a Sonido Musica program at their school. YWES rehearsals take place on Saturdays from 10am – 12pm.
Any questions can be directed to dmorris@communitymusicschool.comcreate new email
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David Morris, YWES Director
In addition to directing the Youth Wind Ensemble of Springfield, David Morris is the Director of Bands and Strings at Minnechaug Regional High School. Prior to his appointment at Minnechaug he was the Director of Bands 5-12 for the Hatfield Public Schools. David also taught in Brockton, Massachusetts as a Woodwind Specialist and a Middle and Elementary School Band Director. In addition to his teaching duties in Brockton, David also maintained a private lesson studio with Brockton High School music students and at his alma mater Stoughton High School, where he was a frequent guest clinician for the jazz ensembles. In 2009 he was chosen to play in the Massachusetts All State Jazz ensemble.
David earned both of his degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he received a B.M. (’13) in Music Education/Saxophone Performance and an M.M. (’17) in Wind Conducting. While enrolled at the university he was an active performer in both large and chamber ensembles and was also a member of the Minuteman Marching Band. He has performed in a wide variety of venues including Symphony Hall in Boston, Leamy Concert Hall at the USCG Academy, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianappolis and “The Big House” in Ann Arbor Michigan. He has also performed at CBDNA as a member of the UMass Wind Ensemble and at the Navy Saxophone Symposium as a member of the studio quartet. His primary conducting teachers and mentors are Dr. Matthew Westgate Dr. James Patrick Miller and Dr. Timothy Todd Anderson. His primary saxophone teacher is Lynn Klock and he has also studied with Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, Paul Lieberman, James Merenda and Paul Alberta. David is also a saxophonist with The Valley Winds, a professional wind ensemble based in the Pioneer Valley.