Conductor, Musicians and Board of Directors

Dr. Ted Vives, Ph.D.  

Ted Vives, (b. 1964) originally from Auburn, Alabama, began music studies at the age of 4. His musical interests changed to trombone performance and composition upon entering the public school system. Vives holds bachelor’s degrees in both Composition and Music Education from Florida State University where he studied composition with John Boda and Charles Carter and conducting with James Croft. His trombone instructors have included William Cramer and John Drew. He also holds a Masters of Music in Composition and Music Theory and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida where he studied composition with Budd Udell and John D. White and conducting with David Waybright.

Currently, Vives is in his 16th season as the Musical and Artistic director for the Los Alamos (NM) Community Winds - 1st Runner-up and 3rd Place in the 2012 and 2014 American Prize, (Community Wind Ensemble Division.)  His arrangements and compositions for marching and concert band have been performed worldwide. His …and they pealed more loud and deep for wind ensemble won the North Cheshire (UK) 2003 Composition Competition and his fanfare for wind ensemble, For the Fair and the Brave, was commissioned by the Tallahassee Winds and performed during their 2004 tour of Australia. In 2003 and 2010, he received the honor of being selected as the Commissioned Composer for the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico. He is the winner of the 2011 American Prize in Composition (Choral Division.)

Dr. Vives holds memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi, WASBE, Music Educators National Conference, Music Teachers National Association, National Band Association, and The Conductor’s Guild. He is the State Composition Chair for the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico. In addition to his conducting duties, he performs as principal trombone with the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, and teaches low brass instruments privately.

He resides in Los Alamos, New Mexico with his wife Paula, son Alex, and daughter Abby.