BYU’s Wind Symphony group recently returned from a performance in Gwangju, South Korea, after being one of the ten bands invited to perform by WASBE, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. WASBE is the only international organization completely dedicated to enhancing the quality of the wind band throughout the world, the organization's website says.
The invitation to perform in Gwangju was a privilege, said Wind Symphony director Shawn Smith. The International WASBE Conference takes place in a different part of the world every two years and bands are invited to apply by submitting concert recordings. After reviewing the recordings, the planning committee selects the ten best bands and invites them to perform at the conference.
“We certainly feel that we are doing something very special here in music at BYU, but this validation from an international panel of judges means that we are indeed performing at a very high level,” Smith said. The recognition also helps to elevate the respect that BYU graduates receive as they go out into the world.
"I simply could not have been more proud of our students."
Because the conference was held in the middle of July, two months after the end of Winter semester, making preparations for the performance was a challenge. Smith sent the students home at the close of the semester with their music and a charge to practice as much as they could by themselves until they met together again in July. The group had four rehearsals together in the two days before they left for Korea and two more once they arrived in Korea.
“I told the students that this performance needed to be the best of our lives since the WASBE audience is very musically sophisticated,” Smith said, “They absolutely rose to the challenge. From the first downbeat to the final release, they played beautifully.”
The concert was fantastic, Smith said. The group was met with enthusiastic praise from the audience and received several curtain calls. One of the highlights from the concert was a performance of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue by BYU piano faculty member, Jihea Hong-Park.
Aside from the performance, the group also had time to enjoy the unique culture of South Korea, visiting the National Museum of Korea, Korean Folk Village, and different shopping markets. Smith recounted one of his favorite experiences where the entire Wind Symphony dressed in traditional Korean outfits and toured one of the royal palaces.
The trip was full of miracles, Smith said, one of which took place before the group even left Provo. When a trombonist became so ill that she couldn’t travel, they had to scramble to find a replacement. Nate Seamons, the Associate Director of Bands at BYU, happened to have a friend that played trombone in the Army Band in Korea. His name is Tonga Tukumoeatu and is a graduate from the BYU School of Music. The group reached out to him and within ten minutes, the Wind Symphony had a substitute trombonist ready to perform.
“I simply could not have been more proud of our students. Not only did they perform beautifully, but they were just so great to be with,” Smith said. “Everywhere we went, people told me how impressed they were with our students. People truly sense something special in our students and that is very gratifying.”
The Wind Symphony will perform with the cinematic pop vocal trio, GENTRI, in November and are currently preparing for a 2026 international tour.
