Lieutenant Commander Lorelei Allison Conrad, USN, retired, hails from Elburn, Illinois. She attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, studying Music Education and served as Principal Trumpet with the Kenosha Symphony. During her studies at Carthage, Conrad met conductor, Dr. Antonia Brico, and was awarded a scholarship to study conducting and to serve as the Assistant Conductor and Associate Principal trumpet of the Brico Symphony in Denver, Colorado. While in Colorado, she continued her trumpet studies with Robert Symonds of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, and also served as Associate Conductor of the Golden Symphony and the Metropolitan State College Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. In 1997, she received her Bachelors degree in Trumpet Performance from Metropolitan State College of Denver and subsequently auditioned for the Naval Academy Band enlisting in 1979.

At the U.S. Naval Academy Band she performed with the Wind Ensemble, Big Band, Chapel Band, Marching Band, Brass Quintet, and German Band and also served as the Primary Enlisted Conductor and coached the Midshipman Drum and Bugle Corps from 1980-1991. On October 1, 1991 Conrad became the Navy's first woman selected to receive a commission as Bandmaster whereupon she was promoted to the rank of Ensign. As a newly appointed officer, her first assignment was as Director, Navy Band San Francisco. In 1993, she was selected to attend the graduate program at Northwestern University where she worked as a graduate assistant to the world-renowned wind conductor, Mr. John P. Paynter and in 1994, she graduated with program honors. Her follow on assignment was as Associate Conductor of the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC, and additionally served as interim Music Program Liaison Officer for Chief of Information at the Pentagon. In 1997, LT Conrad reported to Commander SEVENTH Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan as Fleet Bandmaster touring extensively throughout Japan and the Western Pacific region which included performances in Russia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia, as well as Saipan, New Caledonia, and Guam. During this time, Conrad also conducted three performances with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. In 1999, LCDR Conrad reported to the Navy School of Music as Director of Training for all Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Course students. Additionally, Conrad served as the Conducting Instructor for all for the Navy and Marine Corps students enrolled in the Enlisted Bandleader Course. LCDR Conrad's final assignment with the U.S. Navy was as Director of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band, the Navy's largest Fleet Band.

In September of 2003, LCDR Conrad retired from active duty to be closer to family. She and her husband, Ray, also a retired Navy Musician, moved to Green Valley, Arizona where her mother, June Allison Budd, formerly of Elburn, Illinois, and her aunt, Gloria Bonesz reside. Both Lorelei and Ray Conrad are enjoying retirement and remain very active in musical scene of the Tucson and Green Valley area. Conrad continues to perform as a guest conductor and as the musical director and conductor of the Green Valley Concert Band, an 80 piece ensemble comprised of players ranging from 50 to 97 years of age, and still performs on trumpet player with Ray in the Green Valley Stage Band, the Big Band Sounds, the Green Valley Bavarian Band, and the Community Chorus Orchestra. Most recently, Conrad was awarded a full scholarship to begin a new career in nursing. She will begin the Accelerated (BSN) Nursing Program at the University of Arizona in June of 2006.

Conrad's awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (2 awards), the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 awards), and the Overseas Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 awards). She is a member of the National Musical Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and International Honor Society, Pi Theta Kappa.