Nieves Villaseñor, D.M.A.

Dr. Nieves Villaseñor III is Director of Bands, Coordinator of Music Education and Instrumental Area Head at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. At UIW, he directs the Marching Cardinals, conducts the Wind Ensemble, coordinates the Chamber Ensemble program and leads the Cardinal Red Basketball Band. He teaches courses in instrumental music education and conducting within the music-major sequence and oversees the preparation and mentorship of future music educators. In addition to his university work, Dr. Villaseñor is regularly invited as a guest clinician and conductor, leading honor bands and presenting clinics for programs across the United States.

Prior to his appointment at UIW, Dr. Villaseñor served as Assistant Director of Bands at James Madison University, where he was Assistant Director of the Marching Royal Dukes, Director of the JMU Pep Band, and conductor of the JMU Symphonic Band. During this time, he also served as artist-in-residence at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Virginia, reflecting his long-standing commitment to community-centered music making.

Originally from the military community of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Dr. Villaseñor earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting with a cognate in Nonprofit Organizations from the University of Florida. He holds a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Syracuse University, a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Saxophone) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and an Associate of Fine Arts in Music and Music Education from Coastal Carolina Community College.

A passionate advocate for community music and collaboration, Dr. Villaseñor is the founder and artistic director of the San Antonio Community Wind Ensemble, an ensemble-in-residence at Texas A&M University–San Antonio and program offering of Crossmen Productions, Inc. His previous work includes building the first band and color guard program at Jubilee San Antonio Charter School and extensive performance experience with ensembles including Crossmen Winds (WGI World Class Silver Medalist), River City Big Band, White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps, Unity Street Band and as co-founder of Vortex Indoor Winds in Syracuse, New York.

Dr. Villaseñor is a recipient of the University of Florida’s Graduate Teaching Award for his work in the introductory conducting curriculum and serves annually on the instrumental music faculty of the North Carolina Governor’s School East at Meredith College, the nation’s oldest statewide residential program for academically gifted high school students.

• Doctorate of Musical Arts - Instrumental Conducting - University of Florida - Gainsville, FL
• Master of Music - Instrumental Conducting - Syracuse University - Syracuse, NY
• Bachelor of Arts in Music - Saxophone - University of North Carolina Wilmington - Wilmington, NC
• Associate of Fine Arts - Music and Music Education - Coastal Carolina Community College - Jacksonville, NC

• University of the Incarnate Word - San Antonio, TX (Director of Bands/Coordinator of Music Education)
• James Madison University - Harrisonburg, VA - (Assistant Director of Bands)
• University of Florida - Gainesville, FL (Doctoral Conducting Associate)
• Syracuse University - Syracuse, NY (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
• Jubilee San Antonio - San Antonio, TX (Secondary School Music Teacher)

• North Carolina Governor's School - Raleigh, NC - (Instrumental Music Faculty)
• Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community - Harrisonburg, VA (Musician-in-Residence)
• San Antonio Community Wind Ensemble - San Antonio, TX - (Founding Artistic Director and Conductor)
• Vortex Indoor Winds - (Board Member and Founding Co-Director)

• Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity
• Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority
• Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (Honorary)
• College Band Director’s National Association
• North American Saxophone Alliance
• Texas Music Educators Association
• North Carolina Music Educators Association
• Florida Bandmasters Association

• Community Music Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Marching Arts Education
• Instrumental Conducting

• Marching Cardinals
• Cardinal Red Basketball Band
• Wind Ensemble
• Instrumental Music Pedagogy
• Creative Development I
• Creative Development II
• Conducting