A sound that builds community: inside the Geneseo Wind Ensemble

Geneseo's Wind Ensemble put on a wonderful show on Feb. 26, 2026, featuring two student conductors!

Photo courtesy of The SUNY Geneseo Website

On Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m., the Geneseo Wind Ensemble (GWE) took the stage at Wadsworth Auditorium for its latest concert. The program featured a wide range of composers, from Beethoven and Shostakovich to Charles Ives to contemporary writers like Adrian Sims and Jason Nitsch. Free and open to the public, the performance highlighted not only the group’s musical range, but also the steady work that goes into maintaining a strong performing arts presence on campus.

The Geneseo Wind Ensemble, directed by Bill Tiberio, is a select instrumental group that performs complex and intellectually demanding repertoire. Ryan Hyzy, a senior history education and trumpet performance major who has been part of the ensemble for four years, explained his dual role: he plays trumpet and also serves as a student conductor. Beyond the stage, Hyzy works as a student assistant and music manager for the Department for the Performing Arts, primarily coordinating instrumental ensembles and managing music inventory. His involvement reflects how deeply integrated the ensemble is within campus life.

This semester’s concert included “Variations on ‘America’” by Charles Ives, conducted by Hyzy. He described Ives as “truly an American original,” noting that the composer became the first American modernist to gain international fame. The piece itself is a theme and variation of “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” blending unexpected elements like flamenco rhythms and marching music. Hyzy shared that he chose the work because “it sends a simple message that I think needs more attention in our divisive political climate—that ‘America’ means many different things and has many different complexities.”

Behind every polished performance is a significant amount of preparation. The ensemble rehearses twice a week in Wadsworth Auditorium for 75 minutes, but those rehearsals are just a  part of the equation. As Hyzy put it, “This requires individual students to work hard in the practice room [for] hours a week.” He emphasized that challenging works like Ives demand intense preparation from both musicians and conductors, adding that “all successful concerts require intense rehearsal.”

For newer members like flutist Bethany LaVere, this semester marked her first performance with the ensemble. After stepping away from performance for nearly two years, she described returning as both challenging and rewarding. “As someone who hasn’t been part of a concert ensemble in almost two years, it definitely took some legwork in order to get in shape for GWE,” she said. Still, LaVere notes the adjustment came with encouragement from equally committed peers: “So many other members practice nearly every day to get the more difficult technical sections and perform our best.”

LaVere’s favorite piece of the semester was “Folk Dances” by Dmitri Shostakovich, student-conducted by Katherine Penna. The program’s range—from Beethoven’s “Allegro and Minuetto” to Grainger’s “Colonial Song”—reflects the ensemble’s versatility and ambition. For LaVere, though, the biggest reward is personal growth. “My favorite part of GWE is really just seeing the little improvements I make every time I pick up to play,” she shared.

That sense of steady improvement and shared purpose seems to define the group. Hyzy described the performing arts as “a critical aspect of developing community,” and the ensemble’s long history at the College reinforces that idea. While Geneseo has always had bands, wind ensembles demand a higher level of complexity and artistry. The tradition stretches back decades and has been shaped by influential directors and composers.

Beyond musicianship, the Geneseo Wind Ensemble offers connection. Students from different majors and backgrounds come together for a shared artistic goal. As LaVere put it simply, “GWE is a great time. You can tell the people there really want to make great music, and show up to do their best.” That collective commitment is evident both in rehearsal rooms and on stage.

In a busy academic environment, the Geneseo Wind Ensemble stands as a reminder that creativity, discipline, and collaboration still have a central place on campus. Whether you are a longtime supporter of the performing arts or someone simply looking for an evening of powerful live music, the next concert might be worth adding to your calendar.

The ensemble continues to invite students and community members alike to attend performances and support campus arts. More information about upcoming concerts and events can be found on the SUNY Geneseo website.