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The Columbia University Wind Ensemble (CUWE) is a unique, learner-led, creative space on the Columbia University campus, administered entirely by a student board and guided by an artistic director, Dr. Jason Noble. CUWE operates as a unique collaborative space where students take leadership roles in decision-making and administrative tasks while benefiting from professional musical guidance. The ensemble serves as an experiential laboratory of performance practice, showing student autonomy and expert mentorship in action. This innovative ensemble draws inspiration from the groundbreaking work of Teachers College, Columbia scholars John Dewey, Maxine Greene, and Dr. Randall Allsup, embodying their philosophies in a musical context.

At its core, CUWE is dedicated to performing music of serious artistic merit by diverse composers with purpose, passion, and excellence. The wind ensemble serves as a musical sanctuary amidst the rigorous academic environment of the Ivy League, offering students a space for creative expression and personal growth. Central to CUWE's mission is the belief that student-led, learner-led, and inquiry-based constructivism is the catalyst for genuine intrinsic motivation and transformational change. This approach aligns with contemporary educational theories that emphasize the importance of self-directed learning and personal engagement in the educational process.

CUWE's achievements are notable, having performed full-length concerts at Carnegie Hall three times in recent years. We have commissioned new works by leading voices in the wind band world and invited scholars, conductors, and composers to campus to work with the wind ensemble. The ensemble operates on a voluntary basis, eschewing traditional grading systems (Blum, 2020; Kohn, 1993) in favor of fostering intrinsic motivation and a genuine love for music-making. We operate on the idea that people matter, you matter, and music matters. We are a home for those who love music.

The ensemble serves as both a laboratory and a creative space, where students perform with the same academic and creative rigor applied to their various fields of study at Columbia University. CUWE is committed to continually inspiring, reimagining, and remixing the concept of band and large ensemble performance.

CUWE welcomes wind, brass, and percussion players from across the campus community, including undergraduate and graduate students. The ensemble rehearses weekly on Mondays from 7:30-9:30 pm in Lerner Hall.

CUWE typically presents two formal concerts each year, one per semester, and the annual Festival of Winds event each spring, featuring wind ensembles from across the tri-state area. The ensemble also supports music education in the local community through initiatives like the Making Music Matter program.

Founded in 1920 as the Columbia University Symphonic Band, CUWE has evolved under various conductors, including Edwin Franko Goldman, Harwood Simmons, Theodore "TJ" Perlick Molinari, Dr. Randall Allsup, Dr. Andrew Pease, and Jasmine Britt. In Fall 2024, Dr. Jason Noble returned as conductor and music director after serving from 2013-2021, continuing to build on the ensemble's rich traditions.

For additional information or inquiries, please contact the CUWE board at [email protected].