2025-2026
These elected student leaders perform essential roles within the Wind Ensemble. As both a curricular course and a student organization, the Wind Ensemble’s student leadership is tasked with diverse responsibilities, including administrating tours, managing publicity, concert recording/archiving, and financial development.
Sarah Bigley (’27): President
Sarah is a junior double majoring in Biology and Environmental Science. She loves playing music in the William and Mary Wind Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Pep band, and Westminster Ringers handbell choir. In addition to music, she enjoys dragging compost bins around campus on the Dining Sustainability golf cart and also serving as an RA in a freshman dorm. When she’s not walking backwards being a tour guide, she enjoys running, reading, camping, and exploring Colonial Williamsburg.
Sarah can be reached at sabigley@wm.edu.
The President is responsible for running all official meetings and presiding over all business relating to the Wind Ensemble that is not included in the domain of the Band Director. The President works closely with the Band Director, serving as a student representative for the Wind Ensemble.
Ryan Booker (’28): Treasurer
My name is Ryan and I’m the treasurer here for the W&M Wind Ensemble! I am a sophomore trumpet player and this is my 9th year playing the instrument and my second with the group! I recently joined the fencing club at W&M and I’m planning on studying Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology. I’m a huge fan of movies and music in general, and I spend my free time hanging with friends, working out, studying at Lake Matoaka, and playing the NYT puzzle games!
The Treasurer is responsible for collecting dues and managing the Wind Ensemble’s Student Organization bank account. The Treasurer is expected to keep clear, accurate financial records, pay bills when due, write checks for donations when appropriate, and report expenditures and the total amount in the Wind Ensemble Student Organization account.
Rachel Sawyer (’26): Secretary
Rachel is a Psychology Major and Linguistics minor. She has played the trumpet for 14 years and is a senior in Wind Ensemble. Her favorite memory of the Wind Ensemble is the International Tour to Vienna and Prague in the summer of 2023. In addition, she is a member of Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble Social Committee, Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, the Stress and Emotion Psychology Lab, and Nu Kappa Epsilon. Along with her job as the Wind Ensemble Music Librarian, she is a Certified Nurses Aide working in Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing, Hospice Care, Assisted Living, and Long Term Care. She is also a guest columnist for different publications in the Williamsburg and Smithfield areas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, writing, spending time in nature, and doing all things music!
The Secretary is responsible for taking attendance and reporting absences to the Director at all rehearsals and mandatory events. The Secretary must also take minutes at all Officer Board meetings and keep accurate records of these minutes.
Brooke Drozdowski-Vaughn (’27) & Jenny Epstein (’28): Tour Directors
Brooke is a Junior double majoring in Public and Environmental Policy. Other than wind ensemble, she’s in Pink Tax, Public Policy Club and fencing. Outside of school, she loves to run, bake, learn new languages, read and generally just be outside 🙂 She also loves exploring campus and finding new places!
Jenny is a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Theatre. Outside of band, She enjoys singing both in theatre and in a rock band! She also enjoys wakeboarding, attempting to play piano (and sometimes bass), and spending time with friends.
The Tour Directors work with the President and Director in designing and executing the Ensemble’s annual tour. The Tour Directors work with the Treasurer on fundraising efforts and inform the Ensemble of all logistical and travel details.
Addie Drozdowski-Vaughn (’28) and Tyler Ellison (’28): Publicity & Outreach Directors
Hi! I am SO excited to be a part of this awesome team that’s helping to support the W&M Wind Ensemble. Apart from playing the tenor saxophone in the Wind Ensemble and spending too many hours studying as a pre-med, I also play with the pep-band, am part of the College Red Cross, HOSA, DTO, and love to do yoga, read, crochet, and go on nature walks in my free time.
I’m also involved in the music frat Delta Thau Omicron, the service frat Alpha Phi Omega, and Pep Band. Whenever I’m not studying, I’m usually practicing marimba or piano, hiking, or watching movies with friends. Some of my favorite things to do on campus are hang out at Column 15, walk through CW, and help run the APO golf cart.
The Publicity & Outreach Directors are responsible for actively advertising Wind Ensemble events, such as concerts and fundraising events, and recruiting new members. The Publicity & Outreach Directors are also responsible for maintaining Wind Ensemble social media and merchandise.
Natalie Askew (’27): External Social Director
Natalie is a Junior majoring in Biology with a Marine Science minor. Outside of wind ensemble, she’s in pep band, NKE Music Sorority, and Westminster Ringers. In her free time, she likes to bake, read, and watercolor.
The External Social Director plans and executes social events involving other on-campus organizations for Ensemble members on a regular basis.
Emerson Niederloh (’28): Internal Social Director
Emerson is a sophomore majoring in Business. Outside of the Wind Ensemble, she is involved in Greek life (Gamma Phi Beta), she plays pickleball, and is a student worker in the Student Leadership Development office. She loves walks through Colonial Williamsburg and petting cute dogs.
The Internal Social Director plans and executes social events internal to the Wind Ensemble such as game nights, study sessions, and movie nights, and post-concert hangouts.
Ryan Russell (’27): Web Manager
Ryan is a grad student getting his master’s in Computer Science. Outside of band, he loves learning new coding concepts, and he’s been really into video game development ever since he took a game design class at W&M. When he’s not in school, he’s usually playing video games or complaining about waking up at 3:30 am for work.
The Web Manager is responsible for the upkeep of the Wind Ensemble website.