ESTES, Laura

After 36 years as a middle and high school band director in the US, Laura Estes (b. 1959) retired in 2018 from full-time teaching and began composing. Her first piece Kvetchers (Surprises in Controversial Time) was published in Excelcia Music Publishing’s 2020 catalog, and with her composition Walking on Air, Estes was named the winner of the 2021 Women Band Directors International (WBDI) Composition Competition. In addition to appearing on state festival and contest lists, Estes’ concert works are frequently featured at the MidWest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, state music conventions, All-State events, and regional honor bands throughout the US. Estes enjoys composing for wind band, strings, and full orchestra.