Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen

Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen is a GRAMMY-nominated music educator, conductor, Fulbright Scholar, and Assistant Professor of Music Education at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where she teaches courses in music education, string pedagogy, and conducting and supervises student teaching. She holds a Doctorate in Education from UCLA, a Master of Music Education from The Hartt School, and dual Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Violin Performance from Chapman University.

As Music Director of Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, one of Southern California’s premier youth orchestras, Dr. Gamboa-Kroesen is recognized for her artistry, inclusivity, and commitment to young musicians’ artistic growth. Under her leadership, the ensemble was named Grand Champion at the 2026 National Orchestra Festival and has been hailed for performing “with a maturity and intentionality well beyond their years… making music with a sense of freedom.” Her work as a conductor draws upon a breadth of cultural traditions and musical styles to cultivate connection and growth through ensemble learning, earning her recognition as the winner of the 2026 American Prize in Orchestral Programming in the youth orchestra division. She maintains an active guest conducting schedule with school, youth, and regional honor orchestras and leads workshops and clinics for music educators across the country.

Dr. Gamboa-Kroesen’s scholarship examines string pedagogy, inquiry-based learning, school belonging, and culturally responsive music education. As a Fulbright Scholar in the Philippines, she examined how cultural understandings of identity and human connection can inform music teaching and learning. Her community partnerships extend this work to music learning with justice-involved youth, creating opportunities for emerging educators to reflect on their teaching practices and explore their evolving professional identities. Her publications appear in Research Studies in Music Education, Professing Education, American String Teacher, and Teaching Music. She presents nationally and internationally, including at conferences of the International Society for Music Education, Society for Music Teacher Education, College Music Society, National Association for Music Education, and American String Teachers Association. Additional engagements include the California All-State Music Education Conference, Mid-Atlantic String Symposium, Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium, and International Conference on Education and Justice.

Dr. Gamboa-Kroesen serves on the American String Teacher editorial board and as President-Elect of ASTA Los Angeles. She previously served as Chair of the ASTA College Committee, supporting collegiate engagement, professional sustainability, and inclusive access within the string teaching community. She has received multiple research grants and teaching awards and collaborates with school districts as a curriculum and instructional consultant. Prior to her appointment at UCLA, she taught orchestra in public schools for sixteen years. Her work across university and community settings remains grounded in her classroom experience and a commitment to connecting people, cultures, and communities through shared creative practice.