Alicia Neal

Alicia Neal is a Professor of Music and Music Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University, serving since 2012. She conducts Wind Symphony and Concert Band ensembles while teaching undergraduate/graduate conducting courses and mentoring wind ensemble performance students.

Her academic credentials include:

• Undergraduate and Master of Music degrees from University of Colorado-Boulder
• Doctoral degree from Northwestern University

Neal's professional focus centers on band conducting pedagogy, wind ensemble repertoire development, and music education innovation. She maintains active collaborations with leading composers including Frank Ticheli, David Maslanka, and John Mackey, and regularly serves as guest conductor for national honor bands across North America. Her scholarly approach integrates performance practice with educational theory to advance wind ensemble traditions.

While primarily active in music, her 2023 interdisciplinary publication on rural beer geography demonstrates engagement with socio-spatial analysis, examining community philanthropy through the lens of regional beverage production and consumption patterns.

At Eastern Illinois University, Neal directs the Wind Symphony program and coordinates major events at Doudna Fine Arts Center, including annual honor band festivals and faculty showcase concerts that highlight both student development and professional artistry.