Abel Ramirez

Assistant Director of Bands
Associate Professor of Music

B.M.E., University of Texas at San Antonio; M.M.E., Texas A&M University-Kingsville; D.M.A. (Wind Conducting), U.C.L.A.

Dr. Abel Ramirez is Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and reports to the Director of Bands. Dr. Ramirez is a highly sought after clinician and guest conductor throughout the U.S. Previous to his appointment at UIUC, Dr. Ramirez served as Director of Bands, Head of the Conducting Division, and Chair of Instrumental Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. As the conductor of the CSULA bands, Dr. Ramirez raised the wind ensemble to a level of national attention, receiving invitations to perform at state and regional conferences. In 2007, the CSULA Wind Ensemble performed as the featured wind ensemble during the Fresno State University Wind Band Conference, as well as the California Music Educators Association/MENC Conference, which was held at the Ontario, California Convention Center. The CSULA Wind Ensemble was also invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Western/Northwestern Division Conference in Reno, Nevada. Prior to doctoral study at UCLA, Ramirez enjoyed a successful career as a Texas 5A high school music educator.

Dr. Ramirez' musical knowledge, teaching experience, and artistic conducting expertise is diverse. He has conducted wind ensembles and symphony orchestras, opera, and musicals. In addition, Ramirez maintains a highly active schedule as a consultant, clinician, and adjudicator for wind bands, orchestras, marching bands, and jazz bands from across the United States, Australia and Europe. He has served on the advisory boards for American Classic Music and Music America. Most recently, he was appointed to the board of advisors for the Institute for Latin American Music Study at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

In May 2007, Dr. Ramirez made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut. Shortly afterwards, Ramirez was appointed Conductor-in-Residence for the International Honors Wind Symphony, which he helped to create through a collaborative effort with Distinguished Concerts International New York. Dr. Ramirez conducted the premiere performance of the International Honors Wind Symphony at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in May, 2009. He will return to New York to conduct the IHWS at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in May, 2010.