Ralph Gutiérrez serves as Musical Director and Conductor for Band of America. Mr. Gutiérrez's hometown is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he began his music career playing the tuba at the age of six in a community beginning-band program. He trained in conducting with Dr. Howard Hanson, composer and Director Emeritus of the Eastman School of Music. Mr. Gutiérrez, along with his chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, bestowed  an honorary membership in the National Honorary Band Fraternity upon Dr. Hanson.

A graduate of the University of Florida and the University of California at Berkeley, Ralph has directed many groups in the past twenty years incuding the Bellaire Concert Band, Montrose Symphonic Band, Houston Concert Band, West Houston Concert Band, and the Lone Star Symphonic Band. In addition to his extensive work with wind ensembles, Ralph has experience conducting opera and musical theater. He is an alumni member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha. He has been a guest clinician and adjudicator for several instrumental musical events as well as solo and ensemble contests.

Mr. Gutierrez trained as an operatic tenor with Veronica Tyler of the New York Metropolitan and the New York City Operas. As a tenor, he has sung in the San Carlo Opera Company, the Opera de Florida, the Ebony Opera Guild as well as the Houston Grand Opera. He is currently on the board of the Moores School of Music Society at the University of Houston. Currently he serves as Director of Bands at Chamblee High School.