DESA | ARTS | INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
WIND ENSEMBLE
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts WIND ENSEMBLE is the premier wind band of the Ellington Arts Instrumental Music Department. This 48-piece ensemble has been praised as “one of the flagship programs in our hometown here in the District of Columbia.”
​
Established in 1974, the WIND ENSEMBLE is guided by a philosophy that seeks to expose its students and audiences to the highest quality music written or transcribed for wind and percussion instruments representing various genres of music. The WIND ENSEMBLE has received many awards in the Gold and Superior rating from National organizations such as the World Strides Heritage Festival, Music In The Parks, and the District of Columbia Music Festival located at the Kennedy Center.
WIND ENSEMBLE FACULTY
KIERON C. IRVINE, SR.
HEAD BAND DIRECTOR
Head Director Irvine received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Performance from Howard University. He is currently the Head Band Director of the Ellington Wind Ensemble and the RADICAL ELITE. He also serves as the Trumpet Technique Instructor.
As a freelance trumpeter, Mr. Irvine has performed in the premiere showing of “Gun & Powder” at Signature Theatre, “The Wiz” at Ford’s Theatre, “Camelot” at Shakespeare Theater, and The 2005 Kennedy Center Honors just to name a few. Mr. Irvine is a proud brother of the Eta Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc.
TYRA FLOTTE, ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR, ARRANGER AND DANCE COORDINATOR
Assistant Director Flotte earned her Bachelor’s & Master of Music Education Degrees from Howard University and the University of Maryland. Tyra has worked at Ellington since 2011 teaching Music Theory II, Clarinet Technique and Concert Band where she hones the
skills of each talented student while providing them with a relatable perspective on the importance of theory in their overall competency and development. She also arranged pieces for Wind Ensemble and several pieces which have been performed by RADICAL ELITE, a band which she played an integral part in establishing at the historical institution. Tyra has composed music for Walking In Spiritual Excellence (W.I.S.E.), an online Christian magazine and the book trailer soundtrack for the children’s book, “The Moon Is Broken!”.