Founded in 2007, the MANHATTAN WIND ENSEMBLE allows for professional and semi-
professional musicians in the New York City area to perform and expand the wind band
literature, and engage with audiences. Throughout its history, the ensemble has
commissioned works from various composers, featured international guest conductors, and
performed several world premieres.
Under the direction of its Music Director, Sarah Fernandez, the Manhattan Wind Ensemble
rehearses weekly and holds concerts in the Fall, Winter, and Spring of each year.
Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
Musical Director Sarah Fernandez
Sarah M. Fernández has been teaching music through a wide variety of mediums for over a
decade. A native of the California Central Valley, she currently lives on Long Island and has
been teaching preK-12 general music and chorus there since 2012. Presently, Fernandez is
Choral Director and General Music Teacher at Forest Road Elementary School and Shaw
Avenue Elementary School in Valley Stream UFSD #30 in Nassau County. She is an active
pianist, clarinetist, conductor and arranger in the greater New York City area and currently
serves as Chairperson for the NMEA Division II Chorus, a position held since 2018.
Fernandez received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at the University of
the Pacific Conservatory of Music, Stockton, California and her Master of Arts degree in
Music Education at Teachers College at Columbia University. She began her musical studies
on piano and clarinet. Upon entering her senior year in high school, it was at the Pacific
Music Camp where she found a love of conducting, and the rest is history. Fernandez made
her first appearance on the podium in Stockton, California, guest conducting the Pacific
Symphony Orchestra, the University of the Pacific Wind Ensemble, student recitals and
composition premieres during her undergraduate study. This was followed by a 3-year
period as Guest Conductor then Assistant Director of the Columbia University Wind
Ensemble. For many summers, Fernandez worked with the Columbia Summer Winds as
Associate Conductor with colleagues Dr. Andy Pease and Dr. William Tonissen as well as
collaborated with composers such as Michael Markowski and Jim Territo.
Aside from public school education, she serves as the Music Director and Artistic Director
of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble. Fernandez is also Music Director and Conductor of the
Band of Long Island, a community concert band based in central Long Island, NY. Both
ensembles actively promote and support new works for wind band via commissions and
consortiums as well as collaborations with guest conductors and composers.
Her conducting teachers include Dr. Eric Hammer, Dr. Nicholas Waldvogel, Dino Anagnost,
and Virginia Allen. Further study includes symposiums with distinguished conductors Jerry
Junkin, Richard Floyd, Mallory Thompson, Emily Threinen, Kevin Sedatole, and Robert
Halseth. She also holds active memberships in College Band Directors National Association
(CBDNA), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), Nassau Music Educators
Association (NMEA), the Association of Concert Bands (ACB), and the National Association
for Music Education (NAfME).
Associate Conductor Scott Byers
Scott Byers is a passionate educator, conductor, and performer based in the greater
New York Area. Currently serving as the Band Director at New Rochelle High School, Scott conducts the Symphonic
Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and leads a comprehensive before-school chamber music program.
Previously, he held positions as Associate Band Director at Wayne Valley High School in New Jersey and
Band Director at Merrick Avenue Middle School on Long Island. As an educator, ensembles under his
direction consistently receive top ratings of “Gold” and “Gold with Distinction” at state assessment festivals.
Scott holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Ithaca
College, where he studied saxophone with Steven Mauk. He also earned a Master’s degree in Wind
Conducting from Montclair State University, studying under Thomas McCauley. At Montclair State
University, he served as an assistant conductor to the MSU Wind Symphony, frequently conducting in
rehearsals and performances. He also performed with the group at the WASBE Conference in Prague,
with additional appearances in Vienna and Munich. As a graduate student, Scott presented multiple
chamber music recitals, conducting a variety of ensembles with repertoire spanning different historical periods.
Scott currently serves as Associate Conductor of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, a high caliber
community band dedicated to promoting new works for wind bands throughout New York City. He has
performed as a saxophonist with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, Long Island Wind Ensemble, and Ithaca
College Wind Ensemble. As a conductor, Scott has been selected to participate in conducting
symposiums at Georgia State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Maryland,
and Montclair State University. Scott holds active memberships in College Band Directors National
Association (CBDNA), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), Westchester County School
Music Association (WCSMA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
About the Board of Directors and Management of MWE
The Board of Directors of Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Inc. is responsible for organizing and
managing the operating budget and long-term goals of the ensemble. The ensemble is an
entirely volunteer organization, funded by dues paid by each member of the ensemble,
generous corporate donorship, and through public funds from Creative Engagement, a
grant supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with
the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts, as administered by the Lower
Manhattan Cultural Council.
The 2024-2025 Board of Directors
Executive Board
Michael Jones, President
Andie Cohn, Vice President
Max Scheiber, Treasurer
Nikhil Baliga, Secretary
Directors
Dawn Barrett, Librarian
Monica Karpuk, Productions Manager
Will Link, Personnel Manager
Members at Large
Jasper Scheiber
Greg Shatan
Brian Spund
Dahlia Weinger
Carly Weinreb
Joining the Manhattan Wind Ensemble
The MWE welcomes a variety of interested and talented individuals to join the ensemble.
We are interested in auditioning top musicians and to speaking with those interested in
joining our Board or any of our ad hoc committees. For auditions or Board inquiries, please
contact info@manhattanwindensemble.com.
MWE Logo
The new MWE logo, adopted by the group in 2018, was created by Cindy Seunarine.