Julie Ann Giroux
was born in Fairhaven, Mass on Dec. 12, 1961 and began playing the piano a few years later. By the age of 8, she began composing. Several years and family relocations later, Julie attended Jack Hayes Junior High School. She composed her first Concert Band Work in the 8th grade at the age of 13. She attended Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana graduating in 1979. She played the French Horn in the school bands and played piano for the Choir all the while composing various types of music, including piano works, band works, solo instrumental works and vocal works.

Julie attended college at Louisiana State University receiving her bachelors degree in music performance, all the while continuing to compose band and orchestra works. At this time, she also began composing commercially. In 1981 she published her first band work. Literally days after college graduation, Julie had the opportunity to arrange & conduct several arrangements for a live ESPN broadcast for the National Sportsfest held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Composer Bill Conti had also been hired to compose and conduct music for the same event. Shortly after that, Mr. Conti invited Julie out to Hollywood to work on the mini-series "North and South."

Julie went on to compose & orchestrate music for many Television and Films and received her first of three Emmy nominations in 1989-1990. In 1991-1992, Julie won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction" for the 64th Annual Academy Awards, ABC." When she won her first Emmy Award, she was the first woman and the youngest person ever to win the award in that category. A member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), her credits include White Men Can't Jump, Masters of the Universe, North & South & North & South II, Broadcast News, Blaze, Dynasty and multiple Academy & Emmy Awards shows. During her career Julie has had the honor of scoring for Celene Dion, Paula Abdul, Jerry Orbach, Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, Bryan Adams, Peabo Bryson, Angela Lansbury, Jon Bon Jovi, Madonna, Reba McIntyre, Little Richard, Billy Crystal, Michael Jackson and many, many others.

Ms. Giroux is an extremely well rounded composer with works for Symphony Orchestras (including chorus), Chamber music, Wind Ensembles, Soloists, Brass and Woodwind Quintets and many other serious and commercial formats. Her first published work "Mystery on Mena Mountain" with Southern Music Company was composed while still in college. Since that time, she has composed and published numerous works for professional wind ensembles, military bands, colleges, public schools and professional orchestras. In 1998, Ms. Giroux decided to go back to her roots full time, composing primarily for Concert Bands, Wind Ensembles and other various "serious" forms of music.

The University of Texas at El Paso Symphonic Winds (UTEP)
is the top concert band in the music department at the University of Texas at El Paso. The Symphonic Winds performs a wide variety of literature for the wind band including transcriptions, and works from the standard and contemporary wind repertoire. The ensemble performs six concerts each year and frequently tours the Southwest region. The group has been active in the commissioning of new works for wind band and strives to deliver powerfully expressive performances. The ensemble has been invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association convention three times, and the College Band Directors National Association convention twice. The ensemble has premiered works by composers including Joseph Packales, Dominic Dousa, and William Owens. The Symphonic Winds has released seven CD’s on the Mark Records label featuring the music of David Holsinger, Roger Cichy, Frank Ticheli, Julie Giroux (2 CD’s), Andrew Boysen Jr., David Gillingham and an upcoming eighth CD featuring the music of James Barnes.The ensemble meets four times a week both during the fall and spring semesters with placement auditions taking place during the beginning of each semester. The ensemble is conducted by Dr. Ron Hufstader.