Performance. Development. Community. Fun

The Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble (NSSWE) was established in early 2010 by our Artistic Director Patrick Brennan as an extension program for student musicians who play woodwind, brass or percussion across the Northern Sydney region.

NSSWE is about Community, Performance, Development and Fun!

NSSWE aims to complement and enhance the school band programs by challenging those students who have gained a high degree of musical proficiency.

The program provides students with opportunities for extension as they:

  • perform musical repertoire of a very high standard, in professional and public venues such as The Concourse in Chatswood
  • develop their musical skills and talent under the direction of highly qualified conductors
  • share their love of music with like-minded peers through social interaction
  • tour with their ensemble taking NSSWE out into the community through unique performance opportunities

Musical excellence and passion

Since our inception in 2010, NSSWE has evolved to become a major regional cultural organisation built on the ethos of young people expressing themselves through their music with passion, intensity and integrity.

Our focus remains on how we perform, rather than on what we play, and on entertaining, performing for, and giving back to the community from which we draw our musical talent.

We create a sustainable, vibrant and exciting musical environment by developing our musicians and creating new ensembles to provide new opportunities to grow musically, and by performing repertoires that continue to stretch us musically, yet which remain enjoyable and fun.

Each year, all our ensembles and bands go on tour, and these tours provide NSSWE musicians with new opportunities to see something of Australia and Overseas.

Our musical programs complement those of the schools in the northern Sydney region from which we draw our musicians and we collaborate closely with those schools.

Management Committee

NSSWE is overseen by a Management Committee. This board of volunteers sets the direction of the organisation, manages NSSWE’s finances and staffing, nurtures relationships with our sponsors, and ensures the welfare of the organisation as a whole. The board members also play active roles behind the scenes in organising performances, tours, and other vital activities.

The board is always interested in receiving feedback from the NSSWE community, and if you have any suggestions or comments on NSSWE’s activities, please contact us.

Current Committee

The following board members were elected at the AGM held 4 May 2022:

President & Public Officer       Diana Perche
Vice President Patrick Brennan
Secretary Georgina Hardy
Treasurer Alan Norton
Committee Member Sarah Duncan
Committee Member Timothy Burt
Committee Member Ricardo Castillo
Committee Member Kim Gambrill

Code of Ethics and Conduct

NSSWE operates under a Code of  Conduct.

The Code establishes the standards of behaviour expected of all student musicians, employees, volunteers, parents and carers of NSSWE. It places an obligation on everyone to take responsibility for their own conduct and to work with colleagues, parents, students and volunteers cooperatively to establish an environment everyone is happy and proud to be part of.

This Code of  Conduct applies to all student musicians, employees, volunteers and parents and carers of NSSWE Incorporated and its music programs.

Read NSSWE’s Code of Conduct and Terms and Conditions

Annual Report

A copy of the 2019 NSSWE Annual Report is available for viewing here.

A copy of the 2021 NSSWE Annual Report is available for viewing here.

NSSWE COVID Safe Information

NSSWE is registered with the NSW Government as a COVID Safe Organisation. To gain this accreditation we have produced a COVID Safe Plan which can be read in full here.

NSSWE COVID Safe Guidelines:

  • If a musician is feeling unwell or has flu-like symptoms, they must inform the NSSWE Manager and not attend rehearsal
  • If a musician has a confirmed case of COVID-19 (either via PCR or RAT), they must inform the NSSWE Manager and not attend rehearsal
  • If a musician has had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, they must inform the NSSWE Manager and not attend rehearsal
  • If a musician has returned from overseas within the last 14 days or has been to a known hot spot they must inform the NSSWE Manager and not attend rehearsal
  • Musicians must be dropped off & picked up only at the designated locations only
  • Musicians, parents/guardians & staff must obey physical distancing restrictions (1.5m distance) at pick up/drop off
  • Parents/carers are prohibited from entering any of the rehearsal facilities
  • All staff and musicians must have their attendance recorded fill out the on the day of their rehearsal
  • All staff and musicians must complete the QR code as they enter the rehearsal venue
  • Players of non-reeded woodwind instruments (such as flutes and recorders) should maintain a physical distance of 3 metres from others in the direction of air flow, and 1.5 metres in all other directions.
  • Players of all other instruments (including reeded woodwind instruments) should maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres between each other and the audience/conductor
  • All ensembles will have more breaks every 30 minutes to reduce the amount of time spent together in the rehearsal space
  • All percussionists are to provide their own mallets
  • All musicians are to bring their own music folder to every rehearsal
  • All musicians are to arrive wearing face masks and they are to remain on until the conductor starts the rehearsal. Masks are to be worn during the break when musicians are indoors unless they are eating or drinking

Flying notes on a music sheet

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over 200 young musicians