Captain Cristina Moore Urrutia

Captain Cristina Moore Urrutia is the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Since September 2007, she has led the Band of the West in performing world-class music in support of troop morale, recruiting, community relations and the preservation of our national heritage.

A native of Kimball, Nebraska, Captain Moore Urrutia graduated with high distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music degree in French Horn Performance. She continued her graduate studies at the same institution, earning a master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting in 1998. During this time, she appeared throughout Nebraska as the guest conductor of the Third Chair Chamber Players and the Omaha Theatre Company. An accomplished hornist, she performed regularly with the Omaha Symphony, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra and the Hastings Symphony Orchestra.

Captain Moore Urrutia studied horn performance under Allen French, Gail Williams and Philip Myers. She has studied conducting with such noted conductors as Tyler White, Emil Aluas, Mallory Thompson, Jerry Junkin, Rene Clausen and Mack Wilberg. Captain Moore Urrutia’s professional affiliations include the Conductor’s Guild, the American Choral Director’s Association and the Phi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.

Captain Moore Urrutia began her military career as principal French Horn and Associate Conductor of the 43rd Army Band of the Nebraska National Guard from 1992 until 2001. She then joined the United States Air Force, receiving her commission in April 2001. A Distinguished Graduate of Officer Training School, she was assigned as Deputy Commander of the United States Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.

In 2004, Captain Moore Urrutia was handpicked to conduct the prestigious Singing Sergeants at the United States Air Force Band, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC. While serving as Flight Commander and Director of the Singing Sergeants and Assistant Conductor of the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra, she regularly performed for the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and many other senior leaders and distinguished international visitors. She has conducted at the White House, Arlington Cemetery, the Redskins’ FedEx Field, the Astros’ Minute Maid Park and at Ford’s Theater in the nationally televised American Celebration Salute to Our Troops.