Meet The Conductor

JON CONRAD

Dr. Jon Conrad is the eighth artistic director and conductor of the Waco Community Band. In addition to this role, he is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at McLennan Community College. There, he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Chamber Winds, and the “Blue Crew” Basketball Band, while also teaching courses in instrumental conducting. Dr. Conrad also serves as the Music Department Coordinator at McLennan Community College, where he oversees recruiting for the instrumental studios. He enjoys working as a clinician and judge for both marching and concert events across Texas, Oklahoma, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Before his time in Waco, Conrad served as a Conducting Associate at the University of Oklahoma, where he conducted the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Campus Bands, Pride of Oklahoma, and Sooner Showmen. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Conrad previously held the position of Director of Bands at A.C. Davis High School in Yakima, Washington. During his tenure there, the band program doubled in size after his first year and developed a reputation for success both on the concert stage and the marching field. In addition to his role at A.C. Davis, he was the Assistant Director for the Washington High School All-State Marching Band assisting in travel and performance logistics on trips to Honolulu, Hawaii, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Conrad holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Oklahoma. He also earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a Master of Arts degree in Wind Band Conducting from Washington State University. His conducting mentors include William Wakefield, Michael Hancock, Brian Britt, Brian Wolfe, Timothy Robblee, and Nicholas Wallin. He has conducted ensembles across Europe and North America, performing at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall, as well as at events like the FedEx Orange Bowl, Russell Athletic Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, and the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments. Additionally, he has led international educational and performance tours in London, England, and Paris, France.

His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Community College Band Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He is also an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.