The Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Inc. (MWE, Inc.) is a vibrant community of more than 90 professional and semi-professional woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians from across the New York City area. Founded in 2007 as a musical home for dedicated wind players, MWE, Inc. has grown from a 25-member chamber group into a collection of dynamic, multigenerational ensembles. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, MWE, Inc. is entirely volunteer-run and supported by member dues, corporate sponsorship, and public grants.
MWE, Inc. is made up of two ensembles, both dedicated to one unified vision.
Manhattan Wind Ensemble (MWE) is a select, audition-only ensemble continuing MWE’s tradition of advanced wind band performance. MWE rehearses on Monday evenings from 7-9pm.
Manhattan Symphonic Band (MSB) is a new ensemble designed to welcome more musicians into the MWE community while continuing our commitment to meaningful, challenging, and high-quality music making. MSB rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm.
For nearly twenty years, MWE’s mission has been to elevate wind band literature through high-caliber performances while inspiring audiences of all ages through the unifying power of music. The ensemble has commissioned new works, presented world premieres, collaborated with international guest conductors, and recently performed at Boston Symphony Hall. Now offering year-round concerts—including a free summer series in NYC parks—MWE continues to champion excellence, inclusivity, and community music-making.
Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
Sarah Fernandez, Musical Director, MWE
Sarah Fernández is a highly energetic, passionate conductor and educator and has been Artistic Leadership for the Manhattan Wind Ensemble since 2015. A native of the California Central Valley, she currently lives on Long Island and has been teaching music in LI public schools since 2012. After a nearly twelve-year career in general music and chorus, Fernández is now a full time Junior High Band and Jazz Band Director in the Valley Stream High School District in Nassau County. She is an active pianist, clarinetist, guest conductor and clinician in the greater NYC community and beyond.
Fernández received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California and her Master of Arts degree in Music Education at Teachers College at Columbia University. Fernández has performed at internationally prestigious institutions such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), Beijing Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center & Carnegie Hall. She made her podium debut in Stockton conducting the the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the University of the Pacific Wind Ensemble, student recitals and composition premieres during her undergraduate study. After moving to New York, she began a 3-year period as Guest Conductor then Assistant Director of the Columbia University Wind Ensemble. For many summers, Fernández worked with the Columbia Summer Winds (now Manhattan Summer Winds) as Associate Conductor with colleagues Dr. Andy Pease and Dr. William Tonissen.
Through her work with MWE, Fernández has spearheaded collaborative efforts with prolific composers, conductors and musicians such as Michael Markowski, Anthony Barfield, Jim Territo, Principal Woodwinds from the West Point Band, Rosalie Burrell, and two invitational collaborations with the NYC Flamenco Festival. Outside of MWE, Fernández is the Nassau County Representative for NYSBDA (New York State Band Directors Association) and has presented at conferences and symposiums on rehearsal technique and programming, technology in the wind band, conducting, and Arts Integration in schools. She also serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Band of Long Island, a symphonic pops community band based in central Long Island. Both MWE and BOLI actively promote and support new works for wind band via commissions, consortiums and collaborations with guest conductors, clinicians, performers and composers. Most recently, Fernández served as Guest Conductor at the Hartwick College Honor Band in Oneonta, New York. Conducting mentors through collegiate studies and symposiums include Dr. Mallory Thompson, Curt Ebersole, Jerry Junkin, Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Dr. Emily Threinen, Richard Floyd, Dr. Robert Halseth, and her dearest mentor, the late Dr. Eric Hammer. She is an active member of professional organizations NAfME, WBDI, NMEA, CBDNA and ACB.
Scott Byers, Musical Director, MSB
Scott Byers is an educator, conductor, and performing musician based in the greater New York area. He currently serves as Director of Bands at New Rochelle High School, where he conducts the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and Jazz Band, while also leading a before-school chamber music program designed to provide conservatory-style training for advanced student musicians. Under his direction, the Wind Symphony has consistently earned Gold with Distinction, the highest rating awarded at New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Organization festivals. In December 2026, the Wind Symphony will perform at NYSSMA’s annual statewide conference as the invited high school band ensemble. Prior to his current appointment, Scott served as Associate Band Director at Wayne Valley High School in New Jersey and Band Director at Merrick Avenue Middle School on Long Island.
Scott serves as the Conductor and Music Director of the Manhattan Symphonic Band, a community ensemble dedicated to performing both standard repertoire and new works for wind band throughout New York City. He was recently named a finalist for The American Prize in Conducting (Non-Collegiate Band Division) for performances with the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, where he previously served as Associate Conductor. He is also in demand as a guest conductor, having recently led Arlington High School’s annual Guest Conductor Residency and is scheduled to appear with the Westchester Symphonic Winds during the 2026–2027 season. Additional guest-conducting and educational engagements include serving as a cover conductor for Area All-State rehearsals and developing an exchange program with Baldwin High School. Scott has also served on the conducting faculty of the Eastern U.S. Music Camp at Colgate University, where he directed the middle and high school band divisions, taught courses in conducting and chamber music, and conducted both the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band.
Scott earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Ithaca College and a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Montclair State University, where he studied under Dr. Thomas McCauley. During his graduate studies, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Montclair State University Wind Symphony, regularly leading rehearsals and performances. The ensemble appeared at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference in Prague and also performed in Vienna and Munich. He additionally presented multiple chamber music recitals, conducting a variety of ensembles in repertoire spanning a wide range of historical periods.
An active saxophonist, Scott has performed with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, Long Island Wind Ensemble, Montclair State University Wind Symphony, and Ithaca College Wind Ensemble. As a conductor, he has been selected to participate in conducting symposia at Indiana University, Georgia State University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Maryland, and Montclair State University.
Scott holds active memberships in NYSSMA, NYSBDA, WCSMA, and NAfME, and resides in Manhattan with his wife, Alexandra, and their four cats: Figaro, Papa, Walnut, and Umi.
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.
2026-2027 Board of Directors
President: Andie Cohn
Vice President: David Lipe
Treasurer: Max Scheiber
Secretary: Will Link
Productions Manager: Dahlia Weinger
Fundraising Manager: Danielle Green
Publicity Co-Managers: Jane Chen and Karen Donovan
Manager of Manhattan Summer Winds: David Goehring
Members at Large:
Jon Illari
Greg Shatan
Dawn Barrett
Monica Karpuk
Brian Spund
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.