Wind Ensemble Chamber Winds

Christopher Vongvithaymathakul is Acting Director of UW Concert Bands for the 2026-27 academic year. Originally from Maui, Hawai’i, he recently completed a DMA in Wind Conducting at the University of Washington, studying with Timothy Salzman. Prior to his doctoral studies, Mathakul served for seven years as a high school and middle school band director in schools on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. Mathakul earned a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from the University of New Mexico where he studied conducting with Professor Eric Rombach-Kendall and clarinet with Professor Keith Lemmons. During his time at New Mexico, Mathakul served as graduate assistant for the UNM bands, where his responsibilities included assisting and conducting the concert bands, marching band, and running the “Soundpack” basketball pep band. Mathakul also served as the music director for the Symphony Orchestra of Albuquerque, a community orchestra.
Mathakul received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in 2009, where he studied clarinet with Henry Miyamura and James Moffat. While teaching in the public schools of Hawai’i, Mathakul studied conducting with Professor Grant Okamura and Dr. Jeffrey Boeckman at the University of Hawai’i. Through participation in summer workshops, Mathakul has studied conducting with Dr. Mallory Thompson of Northwestern University, Professor H. Robert Reynolds of the University of Southern California, Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner of the University of Georgia, Dr. Sarah McKoin of Texas Tech University, and Dr. Leonard Tan of the National Institute of Education in Singapore.

Yuman Wu is a Graduate Assistant at the University of Washington, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Instrumental Conducting under the mentorship of Timothy Salzman and Erin Bodnar. At UW, she serves as the conductor for UW Concert Band, assistant conductor for the UW Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and contributes to the Husky Marching Band. She also assists in teaching the undergraduate conducting classes, working closely with music education majors. As a conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Yuman enjoys playing music from all cultural backgrounds, innovating new ideas, and leading the music industry forward with inclusivity. She was recently selected as one of five conductors for the prestigious 2025 U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop, where she conducted The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in a public performance at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.

Yuman holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she studied with Dr. Harlan Parker and served as Teaching Assistant for Secondary Instrumental Conducting. She also earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Cornell University. Yuman completed three Bachelor's degrees in Music, Statistics, and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Yuman has a strong interest in marching bands, the fusion of Asian and Western music, the integration of technology and music, and helping more people learn and appreciate music. Yuman also embraces cultural diversity, leading and establishing an ensemble that fuses Asian and Western music during her academic years. She has frequently performed and showcased this ensemble at consulate events. Additionally, as a Teaching Assistant with the Student Disability Service during her Master program, she assists visually impaired students by translating musical scores and providing necessary support in their study and daily lives.