Lauren Diaz

Biography

I am a professional musician, conductor, and music educator with an active performance career and extensive experience across K–12 and higher education. I hold a Doctorate in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology with certification in World Music Pedagogy. I currently serve as Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education at Lander University.
As a performing artist, I am an accomplished French hornist with a strong commitment to ensemble performance. I am currently a member of the Greenville Concert Band and previously performed with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony and Eastern Wind Symphony, including an appearance at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL. In addition to symphonic wind ensemble performance, I maintain an active freelance career, performing in school musical theater productions and a wide range of cabaret and commercial music settings, performing on both Horn and Trombone. My applied teaching experience spans horn, trumpet, trombone, flute, and piano, working with students from fourth grade through adulthood. This multi-instrumental background informs my versatility as both a performer and educator, allowing me to model musicianship authentically for students across various ensemble settings.
My conducting experience includes concert band, jazz band, and marching band at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. I have worked with ensembles of varying sizes and abilities, both in person and in virtual formats, and continue to refine my conducting craft through professional development, including participation in the Sacramento State Conducting Symposium (2024). My leadership as a musician extends beyond my primary instrument; I have served as a trombone section leader in marching band settings and directed my music fraternity’s chorus, experiences that reflect my collaborative and musician-centered approach to ensemble leadership.