Two members of the McIntosh High School band program, Megan McBrayer and Matt Manley, have been invited to join this year’s Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony (AYWS), the premiere honor wind ensemble for high school students in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Megan, a senior bassoonist, is returning to the youth symphony for a third year. She attended the Governor’s Honors Program at Valdosta State University in 2006. Additional musical honors include All-State Band for two years, District Honor Band for five years and selection by her band directors as an outstanding woodwind student for the past six years.

Matt, a senior French horn player, is returning to the youth symphony for his second year. Matt has participated in District Honor Band for five years, All State Band for two years, was chosen Most Improved Overall Brass player his sophomore year and has been chosen by his band directors as Best High Brass in his band for the past two years. Matt is also a two-year varsity letterman for the MHS swim team.

The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony is comprised of approximately 80 select high school wind and percussion instrumentalists. They are chosen through competitive audition and play traditional and contemporary wind band literature. AYWS was established in 1988 and is under the direction of Dr. Scott A. Stewart, Director of Wind Studies at Emory University.

Additionally, both Megan and Matt will perform with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO), an ensemble of select high school string, wind and percussion students from throughout the greater metropolitan Atlanta area. The EYSO is conducted by Dr. Richard Prior, Director of Orchestral Studies at Emory University.