Alicia Neal has served as the Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University since the fall of 2012. As a Professor of Music her teaching responsibilities include Wind Symphony, Concert Band, conducting courses, and graduate wind conducting. Originally from Kingwood, Texas, 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 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, and three years teaching high school and middle school band in the Humble Independent School District in Houston, Texas.

Neal has served as a guest conductor for honor bands across the United States and Canada, and has collaborated with several renowned composers including Frank Ticheli, David Maslanka, Carter Pann, John Mackey, David Sampson, and John Cheetham. Her professional affiliations include the College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Phi Beta Mu, and she is an honorary member of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.