The North Carolina Youth Wind Ensemble is back!
During the 2026–27 season, we will be creating two ensembles, one for high school students and one for middle school students. More information is available below, but check back as we're in the process of updating this website.
Dr. Feldman is Director of Wind Studies at UNC Chapel Hill and conductor of the Triangle Wind Ensemble.
Dr. Evan Feldman is Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in conducting and music education. He also directs the Triangle Wind Ensemble and is an active guest conductor, with engagements in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Romania, Belgium, and Tanzania. Under his direction, the UNC Wind Ensemble has twice performed at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference.
Dr. Feldman previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, where he led education, holiday, and pops concerts. He has conducted classical and pops concerts with the North Carolina Symphony, and frequently conducts the Chapel Hill Philharmonia Orchestra.
His textbook, Instrumental Music Education (Routledge), is in its 4th edition and has been widely adopted by university music education programs. He authored the first MOOC (massive open online course) dedicated to conducting and rehearsal technique. Over 30,000 students from around the world have taken the course.
He serves as editor of the WASBE Journal and CBDNA Journal, and his arrangements of music by Delibes, Vaughan Williams, Enescu, Dvořák, and Prokofiev are published by Tierolff Muziekcentrale.
Dr. Feldman previously taught at the College of William and Mary (VA) and Central College (IA). He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Donald Hunsberger. He received his Masters from Ithaca College, studying with Rodney Winther, and his BA in Music from Duke University, with Michael Votta. He previously taught high school band in Hicksville, NY.
Mr. Dixon is Assistant Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony. He spent three decades in music education, retiring in 2025 after a distinguished tenure as Director of Bands at Wylie High School in Wylie, TX.
Todd Dixon is the Assistant Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony and serves as Concert Manager and Assistant to the Artistic Director for the Durham Medical Orchestra. A distinguished music educator with three decades of experience, Mr. Dixon began his career in North Texas in 1996 and retired in 2025 after a highly successful tenure as Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Wylie High School. Under his leadership, the Wylie band program earned consistent UIL Concert & Sightreading and Marching Band First Division ratings, advanced to the TMEA State Honor Band Finals five times, and the Texas UIL State Marching Championships eight times, as well as Grand Champion at multiple marching festivals in North Texas.
Mr. Dixon has conducted four performances at New York's Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Butler University's Clowes Hall, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference, as well as three appearances at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. The Wylie Marching Band performed in the 2022 Dublin, Ireland St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the program was named the 2023 Outstanding Texas Band Program by the American School Band Directors Association.
Mr. Dixon holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University–Commerce. He is an active member of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American School Band Directors Association. Throughout his career, he has served in numerous leadership capacities, including TMEA Region 25 Band Chair, President, TMEA Area C Chairman, and TMEA State Board, and remains deeply engaged in mentoring young educators and supporting the growth of music education at the regional and national level. Mr. Dixon now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife of 30 years.
A retired band director with a 32-year career, Ms. Todd led the award-winning band program at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School for 13 years. She now works as a band clinician, mentor, and private brass instructor.
Renée E. Todd is a retired band director with a 32-year career in music education, including 13 years as Director of Bands at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School. Under her leadership, the Ligon Band program grew to over 250 members, with three wind bands and two jazz ensembles consistently earning superior ratings at local and national music festivals.
During her tenure, the program achieved national recognition, including being named a National Blue Ribbon “Program of Excellence” by the National Band Association in 2024 and receiving Downbeat Magazine's Award for Outstanding Jr. High Jazz Performance in 2025. Her ensembles also earned invitations to perform at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2019 and the Music For All National Concert Festival in 2020.
Ms. Todd's contributions to the band community have been recognized with numerous honors, including the “Award of Excellence” and “Band Director of the Year Award” from North Carolina's Central and East Central Districts, and the North Carolina Central Region Jazz Award of Excellence. Ms. Todd is a five-time National Band Association Citation of Excellence recipient, and in 2022 she was named one of School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. She was also nominated for the Wake County Public School System's Magnet Schools of America Teacher of the Year in 2024 and has been honored as Teacher of the Year at multiple schools throughout her career.
Now focused on her work as a band clinician, mentor, and private brass instructor, Ms. Todd collaborates with school music programs, conducts honor bands, and provides guidance to both educators and students. She currently directs the Brass Choir at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. Her upcoming engagements include conducting district- and state-level honor bands, working with community and college summer band camps, and directing the 2028 Middle School Concert Band Camp at the Music for All Summer Symposium.
In addition to her teaching and conducting, Ms. Todd remains an active performer, appearing regularly with the Triangle Brass Band and working as a freelance trumpeter throughout the Raleigh area. She also operates the RT Brass Studio, where she teaches private lessons and mentors developing brass musicians.
Ms. Todd holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a member of the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, the Women Band Directors International, the International Women's Brass Conference, the North American Brass Band Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the North Carolina Music Educators Association.
Mr. Wing is Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Lufkin Road Middle School, and serves as the WCPSS Middle School All-County Honor Band Clinic Chair.
Ryan Wing is the Director of Bands at Lufkin Road Middle School. Mr. Wing is the Fine Arts Department Chair at Lufkin Road Middle School, serves as the Middle School Member-at-large on the North Carolina Bandmasters Association East Central District Board, and serves as the WCPSS Middle School All-County Honor Band Clinic Chair.
Mr. Wing completed his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2023. While in Utah, his primary conducting teachers were Dr. Rebekah Daniel, Dr. Don Peterson, and Dr. Brian Sproul. During his time at The University of Utah, Mr. Wing was a performing member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Utes, Utah Philharmonia and various chamber groups. He served as Drum Major for the Marching Utes for 4 years, including 2 performances in the “Tournament of Roses” Parade and “Rose Bowl” Game in 2022 and 2023.
Mr. Wing's bands consistently earn Superior ratings at the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Music Performance Adjudication. In 2026, the Lufkin Road Middle School Symphonic Band was an Invited Ensemble at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival hosted by Georgia State University, and in 2025 the Lufkin Road Middle School Symphonic Band performed at the Music for All Mid-Atlantic Concert Band Festival at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mr. Wing was recently awarded the “Young Director Award of Excellence” by the North Carolina Bandmasters Association East Central District. Mr. Wing was also a 2025 recipient of the “Ed Rooker ENCORE Award” presented by the North Carolina Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). Mr. Wing has twice been recognized by the National Band Association with a “Citation of Excellence” in 2025 and 2026. Mr. Wing's professional affiliations include the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association, National Band Association, and National Association for Music Education.
Mr. Wing is thrilled to serve as an Assistant Conductor of the North Carolina Youth Wind Ensemble.
Video auditions are due November 21, 2026. Rehearsals and concerts will be held at Apex High School.
Audition requirements differ by ensemble — use the link below for your group.
Need-based financial aid is available for both the audition and participation fees.
Questions? Comments? Email ncyouthwe@gmail.com.