Dr. Alicia Neal

Alicia Neal has served as the Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University since the fall of 2012. As an Associate Professor of Music, her teaching responsibilities include Wind Symphony, Concert Band, conducting courses, Navigating the Music Major, and graduate wind conducting. Originally from Kingwood, Texas in the North-suburban Houston area, Neal holds undergraduate and master of music degrees from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a doctoral degree from Northwestern University. Her principal conducting teachers include Allan McMurray and Mallory Thompson. Prior to her appointment at Eastern Illinois University, Neal served as the Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Minnesota for four years where she taught marching band, pep band, concert bands, and conducting classes. She also taught for one year at St. Xavier University in Chicago as the Interim Director of Instrumental Ensembles. Additionally, she spent three years teaching high school and middle school band in the Humble Independent School District in suburban Houston, Texas.