2d Lt Nicolás M. Ayala Cerón is the Flight Commander at the Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, California. 2d Lt Ayala serves as the associate conductor of the band.
Lt Ayala entered service in the Air Force in February 2024. He completed officer training school in April 2024. Upon completion of officer training, Lt Ayala was transferred to Travis AFB to begin his career in earnest.
Lt Ayala is currently a doctoral candidate at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he is earning a degree in instrumental conducting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s degree in instrumental conducting, both from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. His conducting teachers include Dr. Don Peterson, Kory Katseanes, William Drury, and Charles Peltz.
EDUCATION
2024 – Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
2019-present – DMA in Instrumental Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA
2019 – MM. in Instrumental Conducting, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
2017 – BM. in Music Composition, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
ASSIGNMENTS
- April 2024 – Flight Commander, Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Base, California
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, April 26, 2024
(Current as of September 2024)