About Dr. Lauren Gates

Dr. Lauren Gates is a conductor and music educator with more than a decade of experience leading ensembles at the collegiate, high school, and community levels. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied under Dr. Shanti Simon. She holds both a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of South Florida.

She has served as Assistant Director of Bands at the University of South Florida, where she founded directed the USF Concert Band, directed the basketball pep bands, and served as assistant director of the Herd of Thunder Marching Band. Her teaching experience includes courses in conducting, brass and woodwind techniques, and marching band methods. She also has an extensive resume teaching band at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She has served as Director of Bands at J.W. Mitchell High School in Florida, Director of Bands at Westminster Christian School in Miami, and Assistant Band Director at Dorman High School in South Carolina.

In addition to her teaching and conducting, Dr. Gates has coordinated large-scale festivals and camps, managed ensemble logistics and operations, and worked extensively as a clinician and adjudicator across Florida, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. She is an active member of CBDNA, NBA, and NAfME, and is dedicated to cultivating excellence in performance while preparing students to thrive as musicians and leaders.