Travis Cross
Professor of Music and Director of Bands, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Moderator
Travis J. Cross is an acclaimed conductor, composer, and music educator who serves as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. At UCLA, he conducts the renowned Wind Ensemble, mentors graduate students in conducting, and has previously served as Chair of the Department of Music and Associate Dean for Academic Mentoring and Opportunity.
Adopted from Korea and raised in Minnesota, Cross’s journey reflects both artistic excellence and a deep commitment to mentorship and representation in the arts. He earned his Bachelor of Music, cum laude, from St. Olaf College, and his Master and Doctor of Music degrees from Northwestern University. Before joining UCLA, he was Director of Bands at Virginia Tech and taught music at Edina High School in Minnesota, where his ensembles gained national recognition.
A Yamaha Master Educator, Cross is in high demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across the United States and abroad, including engagements in Korea, Japan, Singapore, and China. His compositions and arrangements are published and performed internationally. As one of the nation’s leading voices in wind conducting and music education, Travis J. Cross combines musical precision, emotional depth, and advocacy for diversity to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Travis Cross
Professor of Music and Director of Bands,
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Travis J. Cross is an acclaimed conductor, composer, and music educator who serves as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. At UCLA, he conducts the renowned Wind Ensemble, mentors graduate students in conducting, and has previously served as Chair of the Department of Music and Associate Dean for Academic Mentoring and Opportunity.
Adopted from Korea and raised in Minnesota, Cross’s journey reflects both artistic excellence and a deep commitment to mentorship and representation in the arts. He earned his Bachelor of Music, cum laude, from St. Olaf College, and his Master and Doctor of Music degrees from Northwestern University. Before joining UCLA, he was Director of Bands at Virginia Tech and taught music at Edina High School in Minnesota, where his ensembles gained national recognition.
A Yamaha Master Educator, Cross is in high demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across the United States and abroad, including engagements in Korea, Japan, Singapore, and China. His compositions and arrangements are published and performed internationally. As one of the nation’s leading voices in wind conducting and music education, Travis J. Cross combines musical precision, emotional depth, and advocacy for diversity to inspire the next generation of musicians.