The San Antonio Youth Wind Ensemble (SAYWE) was founded in 2010 as the premier honor wind ensemble for youth in the San Antonio and surrounding areas. Its purposes are to provide a positive musical experience in an artistic environment for advanced instrumentalists in wind and percussion performance, and to supplement the outstanding music education programs in the public and private schools in the region. The SAYWE rehearses and performs grade five and six (collegiate and professional) original wind band literature composed over a wide span of stylistic compositional periods. As an ensemble, SAYWE serves as ambassadors of culture and youth performance for the city of San Antonio and the surrounding area.