Originally from Burke, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C., Lauren Heller is in her third and final year of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting, cognate in flute performance, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. At CCM Lauren serves as an administrator and graduate assistant in the Wind Studies department, teaches introductory and intermediate conducting courses, and is a regular conductor with the Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Players, and Chamber Winds. She is also the conductor of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble, an auditioned year-round honor group comprised of the best young wind players and percussionists in the Cincinnati/Northern-Kentucky area.
Prior to her time in Cincinnati, Lauren earned a Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental music education, magna cum laude, and a Master of Music degree in wind conducting from the University of Delaware. While at Delaware, Lauren conducted the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as the flute choir, chamber ensembles, and student composition premieres. She also served as graduate assistant to the 300+ member Fightin’ Blue Hen Marching Band. As an undergraduate student she served as drum major of the UDMB for 3 years.
Upon leaving Delaware, Lauren taught public high school for three years in southern Maryland. There she was responsible for two large concert ensembles, the jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, marching band, pep band, and pit orchestra. She also served as guest conductor for both the middle and high school honor bands in the area.
In addition to her musical life, Lauren enjoys cycling (in the warm months!). She and her extended family have been participating in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, the country’s largest single-event athletic fundraiser that raises funds for cancer research, for over 15 years.
Lauren is has been on staff with the Drum Major Academy® since 2000. She is the lead clinician at our University of California / Riverside location and staff manager at our UMASS location – we anticipate and are excited about her undertaking these roles at additional locations in 2012.
