The Cleveland Youth Wind Symphonies I & II
The Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, founded in 1989 by Dr. Gary M. Ciepluch and Robert McAllister, is now in their Ninth season. 1995 - 96 marked the initial season for the CYWS II and its' conductor Melissa Hanna. Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University(Case), and The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), the CYWS was established to provide a musical venue for the most outstanding high school (grades 9-12) woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians throughout Northeast Ohio. The CYWS rehearses from mid-September through early May, each Saturday morning, in Kulas Hall at CIM and Denison Hall at Case from 8:30 A.M.-11:30A.M..
The mission of the group is twofold; to perform the most significant symphonic band and wind ensemble literature, and to provide the opportunity for outstanding young musicians to rehearse and perform together on a weekly basis. Selection in the CYWS is through auditions held each May for the following fall. Approximately 450 students audition for selection into one of the ensembles. In addition to the concerts performed each season in Kulas Hall at The Cleveland Institute of Music, the groups perform at various locations throughout Northeast Ohio. In June, 1994, the CYWS took their first international trip to Germany and the Czech Republic. During the summer of 1996 they performed in Norway and Sweden. This summer will mark their third tour to Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In February, 1996, the CYWS I made their second appearance at the Ohio Music Educators Association State Convention in Dayton, OH.
Some of the CYWS "off-campus" performances include:
| 1990 | Exchange performance with The Greater Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble. |
| 1991 | Ohio Music Educators State Convention at the Cleveland, OH Convention Center. |
| 1992 | Music Educators National Conference in New Orleans, LA. |
| 1993-94 | For the Cleveland Orchestra Marathon in Tower City Center, Cleveland, Ohio - Live Broadcast, WCLV 95.5 F.M. (Since 94 from Kulas Hall at The Cleveland Institute of Music) |
| 1994 | Lake Konstanz Music Festival in Konstanz, Germany (along with five additional concert appearances in Germany and the Czech Republic). |
| The final concert for live broadcast on WCLV 95.5 F.M., home of the Cleveland Orchestra | |
| 1996 | OMEA State Convention, Dayton, Ohio |
| 1996 | The 75th Anniversary Celebration for the Cleveland Institute of Music - Tower City Center, Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1996 | Celebration Ceremony for the 75th anniversay of the Cleveland Clinic |
| 1996 | Performance tour to Denmark, Norway and Sweden |