Last year, Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands Shanti Simon joined our College of Music where she oversees the band program, leads the wind conducting program and teaches undergraduate conducting. Previously, she served as flight commander and associate conductor with the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. Her leadership at CU Boulder is guided by music’s power to bring people together, an insight she credits to her global travels.
How did you decide to pursue conducting as a career?
Becoming a conductor was a natural outgrowth of my love for music, which started in elementary school and extended into high school, where I had a positive experience in the band program. When I was a sophomore, I realized music was something I could pursue as a career.
I did my undergraduate degree at Florida’s Stetson University in music education and trumpet performance, taught in Florida public schools for four years, and then decided to get my master’s and doctorate degrees in conducting at the University of Minnesota. At 30 years old, when I was coming out of my doctorate, I applied to the Air Force and won a job. I was a professional conductor for my seven years on active duty.
You’ve traveled the world with the U.S. Air Force Band. What performance is among the most memorable for you?
The Air Force gave me an opportunity to do what I love as a profession and serve my country at the same time. My first performance was memorable because it was my first assignment in Washington, D.C. It was in 2011 for the National Tree Lighting at the White House with the Airmen of Note, one of the best jazz ensembles in the world. As a young trumpet player, I grew up listening to them on cassette tapes. And then, here I was, conducting this group for the president of the United States and the first family at the White House.
But what I think are the most memorable performances I did with the Air Force are the full honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. There are bands of all services out there 365 days a year honoring our fallen heroes. Allowing families a space to feel emotions during a fragile time of their lives is really meaningful. I’ll always remember the professionalism and care that was put into those funerals, and what it felt like to be honoring something much bigger than me or the bands.
Photo by Casey A. Cass
