Anne Halloran Tortora

A native New Yorker,  Anne Halloran Tortora is committed to making quality music and growing the next generation of leaders through the ensemble experience.. Anne earned the Doctor of Education from Creighton University, Omaha NE, the Master of Music Education  (Conducting) at The Hartt School - University of Hartford, and the Bachelor of Science (Education) and Bachelor of Arts (Music) from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, While at Hartt, Anne also completed coursework for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education with a cognate in Wind Conducting and a minor in Psychology.   Anne's passion for teaching has enabled her to work with learners ranging from Developmental Kindergarten through graduate students. She feels especially grateful for the many opportunities to explore diverse bodies of repertoire while directing instrumental and choral ensembles. While at The Hartt School, she served as a Lecturer (Conducting; Music Education), and Guest Conductor of the Hartt Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. Anne also served as Lecturer (Music Theory;  Conducting; Music History) at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD. While on faculty at The Mount, Anne directed its Wind and Jazz Ensembles while establishing its Chamber Orchestra. In addition, her choral and instrumental ensembles have performed throughout the United States and North America, garnering superior ratings and acclaim. Anne has guest-conducted a variety of ensembles including a performance with the United States Coast Guard Band and features on network television.  Under her direction, the D-1 Athletic Bands from U of Hartford and The Mount performed in America East and North East Conference play, as well as at NCAA Tournaments. Anne's conducting teachers include Paul Phillips, Gary Green, Peter Bagley, and Glen Adsit. A recipient of the College Band Directors National Association's Gender and Ethnic Equality Scholarship, Anne also studied under the tutelage of Tim Reynish, MBE, at the Canford School of Music in Sherbourne, UK. Anne studied Piano with Zosia Jacinowicz, organ with John P. Anthony, and voice with Constance Rock. She holds membership in the National Association for Music Education, International Society for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, and the American Choral Directors Association, and serves as  Connecticut State Chair for Women Band Directors International. Anne has been honored with induction into Sigma Alpha Iota (Eta Mu), Pi Kappa Lambda, and Alpha Iota Sigma. Anne was honored to present at the National Catholic Educational Association and College Music Society's regional and  national conferences. Anne continues to serve as Director of Music at Saint Bernard School, Uncasville and is thrilled to have resumed her work as a theatre educator. Her research agenda focuses on conducting pedagogy, developing collaborative leadership, and Social Emotional Learning.  Anne was honored to have been named as a Quarterfinalist for the 2026 Grammy Music Educator Award. She was recently named a 2027 Legacy Applicant  by the Grammy organization. When she's not making, listening to, or talking about music and/or theatre, Anne can be found making visual art with her trusty Nikon D5300 while enjoying the beauty of Race Point Beach in Provincetown or Wellfleet's Drummer Cove.