MIT Wind Ensemble

Kenneth Amis, Assistant Conductor

MIT Wind Ensemble (21M.426) may be taken for credit or as a listener (not for credit).

ABOUT THE MIT WIND ENSEMBLE

Founded by Music Director Dr. Frederick Harris, Jr. in the fall of 1999, the MIT Wind Ensemble (MITWE) is one of the most innovative such ensembles of its kind. Comprised primarily of outstanding MIT undergraduates and graduate students studying a wide range of disciplines within science, engineering, and the humanities. Repertoire includes outstanding traditional works and new music for full wind ensemble, chamber winds, brass ensemble, percussion ensemble, and woodwind ensembles. MITWE has commissioned 55 original works from many prominent composers. MIT Affiliated Artist, renowned composer, and tuba player of the Empire Brass, Kenneth Amis, is the Assistant Conductor of MITWE.

MITWE has been featured on NPR and was the subject of the 2014 Emmy-winning documentary Awakening: Evoking the Arab Spring Through Music, aired on PBS. MITWE is also featured in the 2019 Emmy-nominated documentary The Great Clarinet Summit, and Call and Response: Creativity at MIT. MITWE’s joint recording with the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, Infinite Winds, received a five-star review from DownBeat and was chosen by the magazine as one of its “Best Albums of 2015 Five-Star Masterpieces” — the first such recognition of its kind for a collegiate wind ensemble. The Boston Globe called the recording “one of the most compelling of 2015.”

Throughout its 26-year history, MITWE has collaborated with elementary, middle and high school students throughout Massachusetts. In March of 2019, MITWE embarked on its first tour, spending a week in the Dominican Republic, presenting four concerts, many STEAM presentations for middle, high school and college students, and premiering the eco-music piece In Praise Of The Humpback.

In May of 2020, MITWE had the honor of opening MIT’s virtual Commencement with To The Light, To The Flame. MITWE also participated in MIT’s 2021 virtual Commencement, performing Diary Of A Pandemic Year.

In March 2023 the MIT Wind Ensemble, along with the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble, toured and performed in the Brazilian Amazon. The project was focused on cultural and environmental sustainability and music's power as a vehicle for change.

REHEARSALS

M/W, 7-9:30pm, Kresge Auditorium

CONCERTS

Fall 2025

Friday, October 24 - 8pm - MIT's Annual Family Weekend Concert
Friday, December 5 - 8pm - 11th Annual PRISM Concert Spectacular!

Spring 2026

Saturday, March 14 - 8pm - Ziporyn World Premiere with BSO violist Danny Kim
Friday, April 17 - 7:30pm - MIT's Annual Campus Preview Weekend Concert
Friday, May 9 - 8pm - Klein World Premiere with Miguel Zenón and Ben Monder

MITWE 2025 Fall Auditions

Auditions for Fall 2025 participation in the MIT Wind Ensemble (21M.426) are Sept. 2-5, with additional options on August 28 & 29.

If you wish to audition earlier than these dates you may do so on zoom with Dr. Harris. Email him directly (fharris@mit.edu) to set up a day/time.

MITWE auditions are also held Spring 2026 but students are strongly encouraged to audition in the Fall for participation for the full AY. Accepted students may take MITWE for credit (6 units) but may also participate registering as a Listener (not for credit).

MITWE is comprised of MIT undergraduate and graduate students but all local college students, MIT community members, and non-MIT community members are welcome to audition. The audition lasts approximately 15 minutes. Pianists, string bassists, and harpists interested in participating in MITWE should contact Dr. Harris directly and may sign up for an audition.

First MITWE rehearsal of the Fall semester will be Monday, September 8, 7:00-9:30pm, Kresge Auditorium.

REGISTER FOR MITWE AUDITION HERE

There are four parts to the audition:

1. Chromatic scale through your entire range.

2. Sight-reading.

3. Two short contrasting sections of any solo(s) or etude(s) of your choice that demonstrate your musicianship. Your choices should include passages that are slow and lyrical and ones that demonstrate your technical facility.

(Percussionists, NOTE: For this portion of the audition — the prepared piece of your choice — you are encouraged (but not required) to play at least two of the three major percussion instruments (timpani, mallet instrument, snare drum). Timpani auditions will include basic tuning, snare drum auditions will include basic rudiments, and mallet auditions will include scales).

4. Prepare Shostakovich’s Festive Overture (the entire piece) for your instrument.

(Percussionists, instead of Festive Overture, you should prepare two of the three percussion excerpts below.)

Festive Overture parts HERE. See NOTES about them below.

Sample recording of Festive Overture HERE

Percussion audition exerpts HERE

NOTES for Festive Overture parts:

*Flutists may choose Flute 1 or Flute 2. Flutists also interested in piccolo should prepare any short excerpt on piccolo of their choice, in addition to the Festive Overture piccolo part.

*Oboists may choose Oboe 1 or Oboe 2. Oboists also interested in English Horn should prepare any short excerpt on English Horn of their choice, in addition to the Festive Overture English Horn part.

*Clarinets may choose Clar. 1 or Clar. 2.

*Horns may choose Horn 1 or Horn 2.

*Trumpet players may choose any of the four Trumpet parts.

*Horns may choose Horn 1 or Horn 2.

*Trombones may choose any of the three Trombone parts.

If you have any questions about auditions/MITWE in general, contact Dr. Fred Harris (fharris@mit.edu). If you need access to an instrument, fill out the Instrument Request Form, then contact the MTA Events Office (mta-request@mit.edu).

Note: Students who for an audition and need access to the MTA 4-260 practice room suite during the week leading up to auditions, may request access by emailing mta-request@mit.edu. Percussionists will be given access to the Kresge Percussion Studio, and can also request access by emailing mta-request@mit.edu