Youth Wind Ensemble

The Knoxville Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (KSYWE) provides young musicians in grades 7 through 12 with instrumental training in a challenging and professional environment. The vision of the organization is to create connections through the program for students and their families that inspire a life-long love of music and instill a sense of responsibility for the quality of the arts in their communities. The KSYWE completed its inaugural season in the spring of 2025.

Applications for the Knoxville Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble’s 2026-2027 season are NOW OPEN! Click below to apply!

QUESTIONS/MORE INFORMATION:
Maddie Helbling, KSO Director of Education and Community Partnerships
Email Maddie Helbling | 865-521-2305

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Alan and Sally Sefton

  • Calendar & Schedule

    Hardin Valley Middle School – Band/Orchestra Rooms
    Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

    2280 Steele Road
    Knoxville, TN 37932


    2026-2027 Wind Ensemble Schedule (CLICK HERE!)

  • Eligibility, Application & Fees

    The Knoxville Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble is open to students grades 7 through 12 on the following instruments: flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet, alto/tenor/baritone saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, string bass, and piano. 

    FULL SEASON: September-May
    This ensemble will be open to students in grades 7-12 with at least 1 year of experience on their instrument.
    Video Audition Required (for assessing playing level and seat placement. Information in “Audition Information” tab)

    SPRING SEMESTER: January-May
    For the spring semester, students will have the opportunity to audition into an Advanced Level Wind Ensemble. Both NEW students and students who participate in KSYWE beginning in September may audition for this ensemble. To be eligible for the Advanced Level ensemble, students must have 3+ years of experience on their instrument (or a recommendation from a private instructor).
    In-person auditions for this ensemble will take place in early December and will consist of student’s grade level required ETSBOA audition materials or solo repertoire equivalent. 


    KSYWE Fees:
    Audition Fee: $25
    Membership Fee: $300
    Retreat Fee: $30

    Applications for the Knoxville Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble’s 2026-2027 season are NOW OPEN! Click below to apply!

    Tuition assistance and scholarships are available. Contact [email protected] for more information.

  • Audition Information

    Audition Information:

    *FALL SEMESTER: September-May
    Students interested in joining KSYWE in September must submit a brief video audition by August 24, 2026.

    Videos must be in ONE take and include the following:
    -Chromatic Scale + 1 scale of your choosing (ascending and descending in as many octaves as you are able to play)
    -1-1.5 minutes of a solo or etude that best showcase your playing

    Please view These Instructions for submitting a video audition for KSYWE.

    Email video auditions to [email protected].

    *Any woodwind, brass, percussion, piano, or double bass players who would like to submit their KSYO audition for consideration into KSYWE, may opt to have their live KSYO audition recorded by KSO staff.


    *SPRING SEMESTER: January-May
    For the spring semester, students will have the opportunity to audition into an advanced level Wind Ensemble. Both NEW students and students who participate in KSYWE beginning in September may audition for this ensemble. To be eligible for the advanced level ensemble, students must have 3+ years experience on their instrument (or a recommendation from a private instructor).
    In-person auditions will take place in early December and will consist of student’s grade level required ETSBOA audition materials or solo repertoire equivalent. More information will be announced in the fall.

    *Any woodwind, brass, percussion, piano, or double bass players who would like to submit their KSYO audition for consideration into KSYWE, may opt to have their live KSYO audition recorded by KSO staff.

    CLICK HERE for some helpful tips for when preparing for your audition.

  • Faculty

    Ashby Goldstein

    Ashby Goldstein, assistant professor, serves as the Director of Music Education and Bands at Carson-Newman University, where he teaches courses in music education. His responsibilities also include supervising student teachers and conducting the Carson-Newman concert and marching bands. Before joining the faculty at Carson-Newman, Mr. Goldstein taught music education courses and conducted concert ensembles as a Graduate Teaching Associate at The Ohio State University.

    Mr. Goldstein has experience as a middle school, high school, and collegiate music educator. Under his direction, the Gifford Middle School bands performed at the Florida Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference, the University of Georgia’s Middle School Band Festival, the Music for All National Middle School Music Festival, and the National Band Association/College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference. During his tenure as the Director of Bands at Sebastian River High School, the Wind Symphony performed at the Western International Band Clinic and the marching band was awarded eight grand championships at various competitions in Florida and Georgia.

    Mr. Goldstein has been awarded two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association and was recognized as the 2014 Gifford Middle School Teacher of the Year, the 2020 Sebastian River High School Teacher of the Year. More recently, he received The Virginia A. Bridges Music Education Award and was acknowledged as an ‘Outstanding Graduate Associate in Music Education’ at Ohio State University. Mr. Goldstein has presented at the Florida, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana music education association conferences and is published in Contributions to Music Education. He is a highly sought-after clinician as a leader of professional development workshops for music educators in various school districts across the Eastern United States and has conducted honor bands in Florida, Georgia, and Montana. He is an active Florida Bandmasters Association adjudicator for both concert and marching band Music Performance Assessments.

    Mr. Goldstein is currently ABD at The Ohio State University, where he is currently completing a Ph.D. in music education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from Florida State University and a master’s degree in instrumental conducting from Southern Oregon University.