The Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra is a newly formed wind orchestra, consistings of wind, brass and percussion players under the aged 25. Organized by the Singapore Section of WASBE and the Singapore National Institute of Education, the Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra is dedicated to promoting the musical development of young musicians across the nation and encouraging their continuation in musical activities following their secondary and post secondary school education.

Apart from identifying top young talent in Singapore, the Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra also provides a context wherein such musicians can develop their full potential through collaborating with young musicians of similar ability. The Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra provides training sessions and workshops with professional musicians. It also encourages its members to bring their acquired experiences back home to share with their peers and community.

At the opening ceremony of the 12th WASBE International Conference, the Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra will perform standard wind band repertoire and works that reflects the culture and music of Singapore. These include a commissioned work by Singaporean composer Dr Kelly Tang and Postcard from Singapore by Philip Sparke.

The Singapore Youth Wind Orchestra is conducted by Oura Takehiro. Born in 1962, Mr Oura received his formal musical training at the Sakuyo College of Music in Okayama, where he studied percussion with Imamura Mitsuaki and conducting with Watanabe Akeo. In a further quest for musical knowledge, he journeyed to Paris and enrolled in the Ecole Normale de Musique a Paris, from which he graduated with certificates in percussion and orchestra studies. During the two years that he was there, Mr Oura was a member of the New National Symphony Orchestra. Upon his return to Japan, he became the director of the Tenri High School Symphonic Band and Marching Band, both of which are top rated school bands in Japan.

No stranger to the music scene in Singapore, Mr. Oura has taught the Yuan Ching Secondary School Band, the Dunman Secondary School Band, the Raffles Junior College Symphonic Band, and was also involved with the former National Theatre Symphonic Band (now the Singapore Wind Symphony). Under Mr Oura direction, the Raffles Institute Military Band received a place rating in the 1993 World Music Competition. He is currently a full time music teacher and band director at the Raffles Institute and the resident conductor at the Raffles Girls School and the Raffles Junior College.