Aliza Wilson, a junior French horn player from Russellville High School, was selected as a member of the Louisville Youth Wind Symphony (LYWS) in Louisville.
Under the direction of Dr. Amy Acklin, the LYWS will launch its inaugural season in January 2025 as the premiere honor wind band in surrounding Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio areas. Its purpose is to provide artistry-level musical experiences for advanced woodwind, brass, and percussion high school students.
Performing Grade 5 and Grade 6 collegiate and professional level repertoire, the LYWS will engage with masterworks and new music for full band and chamber ensemble. The LYWS is proud to serve in residence at the University of Louisville School of Music as an outreach program of the University of Louisville Bands.
Auditioning for LYWS was a highly competitive process with over 220 applications received from Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The final roster represents 83 young artists from 23 schools in Kentucky and Indiana. The 2025 LYWS season will culminate with a public concert performance on May 11, 2025, featuring composer-in-residence John Mackey’s Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band.
Aliza has played French horn for seven years under the direction of Trevor Caldwell and is a horn student of Joseph Demko. She has performed on French horn in multiple honors bands, including KMEA 3rd District All-District Band (2022-2024), WKU Honors Band (2023-2024), and Murray State Quad-State Band (2022-2024), and played piano in the 2024 WKU Jazz Honors Band.
Additionally, Aliza plays French horn in the RHS Panther Concert Band, synth in the RHS Marching Panther Band, piano in the RHS Jazz Band, and mellophone in the RHS Pep Band.
Learn more about LYWS: https://uoflbands.com/lyws/