About

American conductor, clarinetist, and arranger Dr. Luci Disano wields a dynamism as singular as it is fierce. Among a select few that have served as conductor, soloist, and ensemble member with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Luci’s versatility and experience has placed her in high demand across the United States. 

Trained as a clarinetist, she has been the featured soloist with military bands and university wind ensembles performing works including Artie Shaw’s Concerto for Clarinet and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto; descriptions of her performances range from “effortlessly virtuosic” to “utterly delightful”. As a clinician and guest artist, she works with dozens of leading universities, secondary, and primary schools across the country. As an arranger, she distributes a growing catalog of student and professional level ensemble transcriptions—her band transcription of George Walker's “Lyric for Strings” will be published this summer by Keiser Southern Music following rave reviews after its debut to educators at the College Band Directors National Association conference. 

Known for her magnetic, commanding presence on the podium, Luci made her conducting debut in 2016 leading “The President’s Own” on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. While continuing to conduct select performances with the ensemble, Luci pursued and received a doctorate of conducting from the University of Maryland, leading performances with both the UM Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Luci’s work as a conductor bolsters her insight as an arranger: her transcriptions have been sought after by both professional and student organizations, including military bands, universities, and elementary schools. Her work is geared to musicians of every level, ranging from university or professional-level works like George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings”, to elementary-level band marches and fanfares with flexible instrumentation, to chamber reductions of works like Beethoven’s “Yorkshire March”. 

A specialist in practice pedagogy and audition preparation, Luci teaches workshops to every age group. From elementary school students to musicians at the university level, her workshops have included chamber music collaboration, inspired musicianship, and advanced concepts like score study and audition recording preparation. In all, thousands of students have worked with Luci throughout the United States, including at universities such as Rutgers, Texas A&M, and Penn State; at advanced youth programs like the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; and at dozens of schools across the country.

Luci holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music (B.M.), University of Northern Colorado (M.M.), and the University of Maryland (D.M.A.), with additional education from the New England Conservatory. Her research has been published in the WASBE Journal and presented at CBDNA Eastern Division. She draws creative inspiration from innovative contemporary composers such as Michael Gilbertson, Gareth Coker, and Caroline Shaw. Ever fascinated with nature, she maintains a garden and backyard apiary at her home in Washington, D.C..