Yamaha Wind Orchestra 2026
Professional Development Project
Save the Date!
The Yamaha Wind Orchestra returns for its fifth year, and we are excited to invite passionate music educators to engage, perform, and grow as part of this unparalleled performance and professional learning experience.
Weekend 1: Saturday June 6 / Sunday June 7, 2026
Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne, VIC
Weekend 2: Saturday June 20 / Sunday June 21, 2026
Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne, VIC
What Makes the Yamaha Wind Orchestra Unique?
Perform with an elite ensemble
Play alongside top musicians in an advanced symphonic wind band, exploring exceptional repertoire under the
leadership of Yamaha Education Outreach Clinicians, Prof. Rob McWilliams, and Dr. Joanne Heaton.
Advance your teaching & conducting skills
Gain access to practical, real-world professional development designed for band directors and educators. The program covers topics including:
Gain access to practical, real-world professional development designed for band directors and educators. The program covers topics including:
- Repertoire selection & program design
- Score study, preparation & rehearsal strategies
- Conducting techniques & leadership in rehearsal and performance
This hands-on experience provides immediate takeaways for your own teaching and ensemble direction.
Why participate?
Real-world learning
Learn new techniques and apply them immediately in a hands-on rehearsal setting.
Learn new techniques and apply them immediately in a hands-on rehearsal setting.
Practical tools
Gain teaching strategies and rehearsal techniques that translate directly to your own ensemble direction.
Gain teaching strategies and rehearsal techniques that translate directly to your own ensemble direction.
Elite Ensemble Experience
Perform challenging, highly rewarding repertoire alongside outstanding musicians.
Perform challenging, highly rewarding repertoire alongside outstanding musicians.
Connect with like-minded educators
Share ideas, discuss best practices, and build professional networks with educators from all over Australia.
Share ideas, discuss best practices, and build professional networks with educators from all over Australia.
It’s free!
Yamaha Music Australia is committed to supporting music education, and participation in the Yamaha Wind Orchestra, including all 4 days of rehearsals and professional development sessions, is offered at no cost to applicants.
Yamaha Music Australia is committed to supporting music education, and participation in the Yamaha Wind Orchestra, including all 4 days of rehearsals and professional development sessions, is offered at no cost to applicants.
What Past Participants Say
“The quality of the ensemble, the repertoire, the focus on aural acuity, and the PD information. All these
things were of the highest quality, delivered by a high quality director”
“The PD material was incredibly useful, I got so much out of it. The music we played was amazing. This was an
excellent opportunity. Definitely will do it again next year.”
