Symphonic Wind Orchestra
Rehearsals take place every Wednesday between 07:15 pm – 09:30 pm at the School of Music Rehearsal Hall (term time only).
For any queries, reach out to us at swo.luums@gmail.com.
About Symphonic Wind Orchestra
Symphonic Wind Orchestra (better known as SWO), is one of LUUMS’s four auditioned ensembles, providing challenging and rewarding performance opportunities to the finest woodwind, brass & percussion players across all Leeds universities.
In previous years, we have performed a variety of exciting repertoire, including music by Alfred Reed, Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and the fantastic Rhapsody in Blue. This year, we are excited to perform a range of music of different genres, by both familiar and new composers to the ensemble!
We rehearse weekly in preparation for our three termly concerts as part of LUUMS’s concert series’, with additional plans for carolling during the winter term! We also hold a variety of ensemble socials (SWO-cials), with plans for SWO bowling, mini-golf and of course our weekly post-rehearsal pub trip!
To round off the year, we team up with Symph & Strings on our annual tour, to locations such as Scotland, Germany and The Netherlands!
Meet the SWO team
Conductor
Ollie Smith
Ollie is an Environment Science student from Brighton, currently on their placement year working at the university’s Sustainability Service! They have played euphonium and trombone since the ages of 10 and 18 respectively, as a member of both Brighton & Hove Youth Wind Orchestra and Hangleton Brass Band.
Since joining LUUMS, they have performed with 8 out of 11 ensembles, and briefly picked up percussion last year. Additionally, they have held the roles of Fresher’s Rep, Publicity Officer and Concert Band Conductor (alongside Ben Allen), and are excited to take on the roles of SWO Conductor and Treasurer for this year!
After an amazing year running Concert Band with the Concert Beam, Ollie is super excited to be continuing their conducting journey with SWO, alongside managers Abi & Ruby, and cannot wait to continue the fun and welcoming environment they have loved being a part of over the last 2 years.
Managers
Abi Tait
Abi Tait is a third-year International History and Politics student from Surrey. She has loved playing the oboe (and the cor anglais) in multiple LUUMS ensembles over her two years at Leeds, as well as taking on the roles of Concert Band manager and Social Secretary last year, which provided skills she is looking forward to using as SWO manager.
Abi has loved her time in SWO so far, with favourite memories including dancing to ‘Mambo’ in West Side Story arrangement, trips to Old Bar and the end of year awards and quiz night. The auditioned ensembles’ tours have been absolute highlights of her time at Leeds, and she looks forward to planning this year’s tour. As well as this, she is excited to another year of amazing music and fun in SWO, aiming to foster a community spirit within the ensemble and plan some great socials.
Ruby Nunns
Ruby is a second year Civil engineering student from Brighton who plays the trumpet and drums. At home, she played in a wind orchestra with SWO conductor Ollie, as well as a symphony orchestra and big band. This past year, she has been part of SWO, Symph and Concert Band as well as the Jazz and Blues society. Further, she was a member of the NYO trumpet section playing in exciting concerts such as the Planets at the BBC Proms.
She has absolutely loved her first year of the music scene at Leeds, particularly enjoying playing Scheherazade with Symph and Saga Candida with SWO. Rest assured, she will organise some exciting SWO shenanigans and fundraise for awesome repertoire during the year to come!
Outside of music and her degree, Ruby also loves to play football and is coordinating the university women’s development squad this year too
Leeds University Union Music Society 