Clinics with MasterClass Faculty

Abel Ramirez

Professor of Music, Dr. Abel Saldivar Ramirez holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from UCLA.  Dr. Ramirez is presently the conductor of the Del Mar College Wind Ensemble and head of the band area. Ramirez enjoyed a career as a Texas 5A high school music educator while employed by the Northside Independent School District from 1993 to 2000, prior to beginning graduate studies at UCLA.   

Prior to his appointment at Del Mar College, Dr. Ramirez held appointments as the Director of Bands, Head of the Conducting Division, and Chair of the Instrumental Area at California State University, Los Angeles.  Dr. Ramirez also held appointments as the Acting Director of Bands at the University of Illinois School of Music from 2008-2009.  He remained on the faculty at the University of Illinois from 2009-2012 as an Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands.   

In May 2007, Dr. Ramirez served as a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall during a festival sponsored by the National Wind Symphony.  Dr. Ramirez was subsequently appointed Resident Guest Conductor for the International Honors Wind Symphony, which he co-founded with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). He conducted a performance of the International Honors Wind Symphony in Avery Fisher Hall in May 2009 during the Lincoln Center’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Dr. Ramirez was also invited to guest conduct the 4A Texas All-State Band in the Lila Cockrell Theater during the 2011TMEA All State Band Convention, and most recently served as the artistic director and guest conductor of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra.   

Dr. Ramirez continues to remain active as an adjudicator for wind bands, orchestras, marching bands, and jazz bands from across the United States and abroad.  He is a member of the Texas Community College Band Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu.