Biography

Ted Vives began music studies at the age of 4, taking piano and theory lessons from Edgar and Dorothy Glyde. His musical interests changed to trombone performance and composition upon entering the public school system. Vives holds bachelor’s degrees in both composition and music education from Florida State University where he studied with John Boda, Roy Johnson, and Charles Carter. His trombone instructors have included William Cramer and John Drew. He also holds a Masters of Music in Composition and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida where he studied with Budd Udell and John D. White. He has taught in the public schools in Florida and has served as a clinician at band and music camps in many states.

Vives is currently the musical and Artistic director for the Los Alamos (NM) Community Winds – a position he has held since 2000. His marching and concert band arrangements have been performed worldwide. His …and they pealed more loud and deep for wind ensemble won the North Cheshire (UK) 2003 Composition Competition and his fanfare for wind ensemble For the Fair and the Brave, was premiered at the Sydney Opera House by the Tallahassee Winds during their 2004 tour of Australia. In 2003, he received the honor of being selected as the Commissioned Composer for the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico, an honor which he again received for 2010. He is currently a finalist for the 2011 American Prize for composition (http://www.theamericanprize.org.)

Dr. Vives holds memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi, Music Educators National Conference, Music Teachers National Association, and the American Bandmasters Association. He resides in Los Alamos, New Mexico with his wife Paula, son Alex, and daughter Abby. He also performs as principal trombone with both the Los Alamos Symphony and the Santa Fe Community Orchestra and teaches low brass instruments privately.