Perform with the BEST in the MIDWEST
Location: Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts
Questions: uway-info@uwm.edu
For over four decades the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind & Percussion Ensembles program (UWAY) has provided the region’s finest woodwind, brass and percussion students the opportunity to perform traditional and contemporary repertoire with other like-minded musicians.
UWAY musicians are enrolled in grades eight through twelve and are actively involved in their school band/music program. Artist-faculty from the Peck School of the Arts at UW-Milwaukee lead UWAY rehearsals and performances. They work closely with other members of the university’s vibrant performing arts community to help student musicians further their skills by learning and performing in the university setting. Band directors and private teachers throughout southeastern Wisconsin provide additional instructional support to UWAY.
Thank you for your interest in UWAY. We look forward to making music together!
Regular UWAY rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:45 p.m. at UWM’s Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. Rehearsals run from September 5 through December 11, 2023, and January 16 through April 30, 2024.
All Sunday UWAY concerts take place at 4 p.m. with dress rehearsals for UWAY personnel running from 2-3:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 29, 2023
- Sunday, December 10, 2023
- Sunday, February 25, 2024
- Sunday, May 5, 2024
Scott Corley
Education
DMA, Conducting, University of Iowa
MM, Conducting, University of Georgia
BM, Music in Education, University of South Carolina
Biography
Scott R. Corley is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts. In this capacity, he serves as Assistant Director of University Bands and Music Director of the UWM Youth Wind & Percussion Ensembles program (“UWAY”). Additionally, Dr. Corley directs the Panther (pep) Band, teaches courses in conducting and music education, and assists with the supervision of the University Bands operational area. As a frequent guest conductor with the UWM Wind Ensemble, Dr. Corley has conducted at numerous state, regional, and national conferences.
Scott graduated from the University of Iowa with a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Band Conducting in 2016. At Iowa, he was an Iowa Performance Fellow, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and a staff member of the Hawkeye Marching Band. Prior to his appointment in Milwaukee, Scott earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina (his home state), and taught in the state’s public schools for four years. He was then awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Conducting. At Georgia, Corley studied trumpet with Fred Mills and conducting with all of the school’s ensemble conductors, and was on the staff of the UGA Redcoat Band.
Since moving to Wisconsin in 2002, Dr. Corley has maintained an active schedule of University service and off-campus activities. He has been clinician/adjudicator and guest conductor for a number of band festivals and middle/high school honor bands. As an advocate of new wind band music, and especially that for young/ developing ensembles, Dr. Corley is frequently involved in commissioning projects, consortia, and assisted in the organization of CBDNA's Young Band Composition Competition in 2003 and 2005. Dr. Corley has also led numerous premiere performances including works by composers John Mackey and Michael Markowski.
Teaching Faculty III, Instrumental Conducting
Interim Director, University Bands
Music Advisor, Youth Wind Ensemble (UWAY)
John Woger
Biography
John Woger is the Director of Bands at Menomonee Falls High School in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, having served the district since 1990. He has also served as the K-12 Music Department Chair and Curriculum Chair for the Menomonee Falls School District. Mr. Woger conducts the Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band. The excellence of the Menomonee Falls Band program was honored by being named the first runner up for the American School Band Directors Association Dale C. Harris Exemplary Band Award and being recognized as a Grammy Signature School. The Menomonee Falls Bands and Jazz Ensembles have participated in clinics with many of the finest names in music education. Guest clinicians include The Millar Brass Ensemble with Vincent Chichowicz, The United States Navy Brass Quintet, Dennis DiBlasio, The Dallas Brass, The Third Street Brass and Doc Severinsen. The Menomonee Falls district has also been active in commissioning five new works for band. TheWisconsin Alliance of Composers selected the North Symphonic Band, under Mr. Woger’s direction, for the Youth Commissioning Project in 2006.
Mr. Woger is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Mr. Woger has had the privilege of conducting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Honors Band festival in both 2000 and 2003. He has also served as the Principal Conductor for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble II (UWAY II). He was honored with the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee Certificate of Excellence in Instrumental Music in 2009, the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship in 1999, the Milwaukee Symphony Recognition for Excellence in Instrumental Music (2009), the Menomonee Falls North PTSA Teacher of the Year Award in 1996 and 2005 and the Superintendent’s Child Advocacy Award in 2006. He is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Who’s Who In America and The National Honor Rolls Outstanding Teachers. In June of 2011, Mr. Woger was inducted into the Menomonee Falls School District Fine Arts Wall of Fame.
Mr. Woger is an accomplished trumpeter and has performed with many groups including the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra, The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, The Bach Chamber Choir Orchestra, and many jazz ensembles throughout the Milwaukee area. Mr. Woger is also active as a guest conductor, composer, lecturer and clinician.
Associate Conductor/Co-Director, Youth Wind Ensemble (UWAY)
2023-24 Entrance Auditions and Registration
General information and important dates
- Any student-musician in 8–12 grade in the 2023-24 academic year is eligible to audition for UWAY membership.
- Area band directors and private instrumental instructors are welcomed to send recommendations for UWAY directly to Dr. Scott Corley, scorley@uwm.edu.
- UWAY Spring Acceptance Auditions will take place at four (4) locations in late April/early May 2023. Current/returning UWAY musicians will receive information about performing a re-audition during an upcoming UWAY rehearsal meeting.
- All UWAY musicians will also participate in the Fall Placement Audition process on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Additional information for accepted UWAY musicians will be emailed during the Summer of 2023.
- Saturday, February 10, 2024 (morning): Annual UWAY Concerto Competition. This is an elective opportunity exclusively for UWAY musicians. The winner(s) of this competition will be featured performer(s) on the May 5, 2024 UWAY Concert!
- New/prospective UWAY musicians may choose one of four available Spring Acceptance Audition locations. Only one location/audition is required.
- Wednesday, April 26 at MUSKEGO High School (2:45-4:15 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 27 at OAK CREEK High School (3-4:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, May 2 at UWM’s ZELAZO CENTER (4:30-6 p.m.)
- Thursday, May 4 at GERMANTOWN High School (3-4:30 p.m.)
Membership audition requirements
- Chromatic scale: A two-octave chromatic scale (any starting pitch), performed both ascending and descending. Rhythm or articulation patterns may be determined by the musician. Additional range may be demonstrated if reflective of a musician’s more mature abilities.
- Solo: Any portion(s) from a standard solo or étude, preferably with contrasting musical sections. A recent solo from solo/ensemble festival preparation is ideal. Please perform approximately three to four minutes of music.
- Percussionists: No chromatic scale required. Prepare two short solo excerpts that demonstrate your abilities on snare drum plus one other area of percussion performance. If you don’t have access to percussion instruments, please email Dr. Corley at scorley@uwm.edu.
Membership audition results
UWAY faculty and staff will evaluate Spring Acceptance Auditions submissions and share audition results with individuals in late May. Accepted students will receive membership information, Fall Placement Audition instructions, and a link to the UWAY fee payment website.
Based on the number of openings in the program and the level of performance as assessed through auditions, the UWAY Faculty will also maintain a UWAY Wait List. Some students may be “called up” from the Wait List later in the membership process. All wait-listed musicians are encouraged to apply for subsequent UWAY seasons.
2023-24 Fees
| Returning UWAY Musicians | $370 |
| New UWAY Musicians | $450 |
| Both UWAY and UJAY | $650 (two separate payments of $325 each) |
All UWAY tuition and registration payments are non-refundable. Instructions for making payments, due dates, and additional payment details will be sent to accepted musicians in their UWAY acceptance mailing.
Scholarships
We are glad to assist any UWAY student-musician with a reduced registration fee (scholarship) as demonstrated through stated financial need. Please complete the UWAY Scholarship Form for consideration.