Reese Byers is currently working with the Wichita Symphony, where she serves as a mentor for the youth orchestras program. The Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras Program (WSYO) helps bring classical music to life for young people in south central Kansas. They aim to enrich, educate, and entertain diverse audiences of all ages through performances of orchestral music to enhance the vibrancy and vitality of Wichita. She is a senior in music education and will be graduating in the Spring of 2027.
As a youth mentor, Reese is able to help students grow their musical understanding and abilities while also assisting directors in the personalized instruction of students.
She has been able to become more comfortable as an instructor and reflects on the fact that she has grown in her understanding of group teaching.
“It has made me more excited to get into the real world and start teaching, so that I can show students how exciting music is,” Reese said.
Through this experience, she has learned that in her industry, you must be able to think on your feet to resolve problems that may arise in rehearsal. However, Reese has also learned that connecting with students is key to their enjoyment and success in the program.
She feels more confident in her ability to give instructions and advice to young musicians as well as learning to balance a group of students.
Reese talks on how much she enjoys getting to see her students fall in love with music.
“After our concert last semester, I had a student who discovered how amazing performing can be. That made me so happy because she was discovering the reason why so many musicians enjoy it and stick with it,” Reese said.
The experience enhanced her coursework at Wichita State University by allowing her to apply what she has learned in the classroom to a real-world environment. Because of the State of Kansas Applied Learning Fund, Reese has been able to not worry about financial aspects that are common for college students.
“I was able to focus on my career path by working with the students in Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras, while also not having to get another part-time job to make ends meet,” Reese said.
Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.
For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo