Conductor
Travis J. Cross was recently appointed assistant professor of music at
Virginia Tech, where he conducts the University Symphonic Wind Ensemble
and teaches courses in conducting. He completed doctoral coursework at
Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he studied with Mallory
Thompson. He previously earned the bachelor of music degree cum
laude in vocal and instrumental music education from St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minn., and the master of music degree in conducting from
Northwestern.
Cross taught for four years at Edina (Minn.) High School, where he
conducted two concert bands and oversaw the marching band program. In
2004, he was selected to participate in the inaugural Young
Conductor/Mentor Project sponsored by the National Band Association. The
same year he received the Distinguished Young Band Director Award from the
American School Band Directors Association of Minnesota. From 2001-2003,
Cross served a two-year term as the recent graduate on the St. Olaf
College Board of Regents. In 2006, he was named a Jacob K. Javits Fellow
by the United Stated Department of Education.
A graduate of Ankeny (Iowa) High School, Cross has served as staff
arranger for the Ankeny Marching Hawks from 1995-2002, during which time
the band earned top honors at contests in Iowa, South Dakota and
Wisconsin. In 1996, he was named Collegiate Composer of the Year by the
Minnesota Music Educators Association. Cross will contribute a chapter to
volume four of Composers on Composing for Band, available this fall from
GIA Publications. His original works and arrangements for band, choir, and
orchestra are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Daehn Publications, and
Theodore Music.
