T. Edward Vives, born in 1964 in Auburn, Alabama, began his musical odyssey at the tender age of four, starting with piano under Edgar and Dorothy Glyde. His passion for music quickly expanded to include trombone performance and composition during his formative years in public school.

He then pursued bachelor's degrees in Composition and Music Education at Florida State University, where esteemed composers like John Boda and Charles Carter mentored him. He honed his trombone skills under William Cramer and John Drew and refined his conducting abilities with James Croft. His unrelenting dedication and professional demeanor propelled him to further academic heights, leading to a Master of Music in Composition and Music Theory and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida.

As a recognized figure in the music world, he currently serves as the Musical and Artistic director of the Los Alamos Community Winds, an adult community wind ensemble. Under his leadership, the ensemble has been a consistent finalist for the American Prize, Community Wind Ensemble Division, achieving first runner-up status in 2012. His compositions have been performed globally and won prestigious accolades, such as the North Cheshire 2003 Composition Competition. His innovative approach to music led to his selection as the Commissioned Composer for the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico in 2003 and 2010. He also received the 2011 American Prize in Composition (Choral Division) and placed third in the 2015 American Prize in Conducting.