Virginia Allen (b. 1953) is an American composer, conductor, and educator, and a pioneer for women in military bands. During her 20 years as a conductor in the US Army band program, her appointment as Principal Conductor of The US Army Forces Command Band in Atlanta made her the first woman to conduct an active duty military band that included women. She was also the first female conductor of the US Military Academy Band at West Point and the US Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus. Since leaving the military, she has been in demand as a conductor, teacher, and administrator. She has worked at the Juilliard School, where she founded the Conducting Workshop for Music Educators, and the Curtis Institute. She founded the Philadephia Wind Symphony in 2011, and remains their Artistic Director Emeritus. She studied at the Catholic University of America (French Horn and Music Education), the University of Calgary (Conducting), and Teachers College, Columbia University (College Teaching). See much more about her at her website.
Allen wrote Women of the Podium in 1986 as the official march for the Women Band Directors National Association, now called Women Band Directors International (WBDI). She conducted the premiere with the US Army Band at the WBDI Summer Meeting on July 8, 1986. Here it is in live performance:
See more about the march at TRN, J. W. Pepper, and the Wind Repertory Project.