2024 Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow

Meet Armand Hall

Armand Hall (conductor, clarinetist, and educator) is the Director of Programs for the Gateways Music Festival. In this role, Dr. Hall plans, develops, and oversees all musical activities associated with the festival. Additionally, Hall is also a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, where he is teaching courses in the Art Leadership Program and Music, Teaching, and Learning (Music Education) Departments.   Prior to his role at Gateways, he served as the Executive and Artistic Director of ROCmusic Collaborative, Rochester’s El Sistema-inspired community-based, free music learning program. For six years, Armand served as Associate Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music Education at the University of Memphis and, prior to that, he was a middle school band  and high school marching band director in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Dr. Hall is a board of directors member of El Sistema USA®, including two terms as board chair, and serves on the boards of the Archipelago Project, Inc and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is a constant advocate for music educators and increased access and equity for young music students, as evidenced by his recent work with the Dr. William P. Foster Initiative and Teach Music Coalition.  A conductor and clarinetist, Dr. Hall earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University. He continues to provide professional development sessions for region and state music education associations, and act as adjudicator/ clinician/ program evaluator for school bands and Sistema-inspired programs around the country.  Armand, along with his partner Dr. Leah McGray, co-conducts the Roads Less Travelled Ensemble, a contemporary music ensemble focused on platforming new works – many by composers from underrepresented populations – and designing audience-focused concert experiences.