Honestly, most people don't expect a world-class choral conductor to be the person running a massive polytechnic university. It feels like a weird pivot, right? But if you look at the career of Dr. Iris S. Levine, the logic starts to click. She isn’t just a musician; she’s a builder. Whether it's a 100-person choir or a college with 6,000 students, she has this specific, rare talent for taking something unpolished and making it world-class.
You might know her as the woman who founded Vox Femina Los Angeles, or maybe you’ve seen her name on the door of the President’s office at Cal Poly Pomona. Currently, in 2026, she’s serving as the Interim President of Cal Poly Pomona, stepping back into the fray after a brief "retirement" that didn't really take.
The Conductor Who Refused to Take "No" for an Answer
Dr. Iris S. Levine didn't just walk into a leadership role. She fought for it. Back when she was an undergrad at the University of New Hampshire, she was actually denied enrollment in music courses because she was "undeclared."
Most people would just go to the registrar and complain. Not Iris.
She sat outside the department chair's office for an entire day. Literally. She just waited until he had no choice but to let her in. That kind of stubbornness—or "tenacity," if you want to be professional—is the thread that runs through her whole life.
She eventually moved West, snagging a Master’s from Temple University and a Doctorate from USC under choral legends like Rod Eichenberger. When she landed at Cal Poly Pomona in 1990, she was the first woman ever appointed to a tenure-track position in the music department. The building she was assigned to? It didn’t even have electricity or window coverings yet.
Why VOX Femina Los Angeles Is a Big Deal
In 1997, Dr. Iris S. Levine did something that basically changed the choral landscape in Southern California. She founded Vox Femina Los Angeles.
At the time, women's choruses were often pushed to the side, but Iris wanted to give women a real voice—specifically through music that addressed social and racial justice. We aren't just talking about singing pretty songs here. VOX has commissioned over 70 new works. That is an insane amount of new music.
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In 2024, the group hit a massive milestone: they won the Margaret Hillis Award for Artistic and Organizational Achievement and finally made their debut at Carnegie Hall. It was a "full circle" moment for Iris, as she actually studied under Margaret Hillis years ago.
The "All-Steinway" Legacy at Cal Poly Pomona
While she was building a world-class choir, she was also climbing the ladder at Cal Poly Pomona. She spent 15 years as the Music Department Chair.
One of her most legendary moves was the Steinway Initiative.
Basically, she decided the university needed to be an "All-Steinway School." She spearheaded a $2.5 million campaign to buy 29 brand-new Steinway & Sons pianos. It wasn't just for the music majors. She knew that the engineering and chemistry students on campus were often high-level musicians who needed quality instruments to stay sane during their brutal lab schedules.
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By 2015, she got it done.
After that, she moved into administration, serving as the Dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS). She famously described this transition as "removing blinders." Each new role let her see more of how the university actually functioned.
Leading Through the Storm
It hasn't all been applause and accolades. In 2013, Iris was diagnosed with cancer.
Most people would have stepped down. But according to her colleagues, she stayed steadfast. She kept conducting from afar and insisted on being a constant presence for her students. That "people-first" mentality is why she’s so respected.
Even now, as the Interim President of Cal Poly Pomona (a role she started in July 2025), she’s known for just walking around campus. She’s not hiding in an office. She told the student paper, The Poly Post, that walking around to see people is her favorite part of the job.
She isn't looking for the permanent gig, though. Her contract explicitly says she won't be considered for the permanent presidency. She’s there to keep the "culture strong" until the next leader takes over, likely sometime in late 2026.
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What You Can Learn from the Dr. Iris S. Levine Playbook
If you’re looking to make an impact in your own field, there are a few "Iris-isms" that actually work:
- Don't wait for the door to open. If you have to sit outside an office for eight hours to get into a class, do it.
- Focus on the "treble" voices. Whether literally in a choir or figuratively in business, find the voices that aren't being heard and give them a platform.
- Humor is a tool. Her colleagues often mention how she uses humor to get through "the trenches."
- Relationships are the job. Whether you're a conductor or a CEO, if you aren't connecting with the people, you aren't leading.
If you want to support her work or the future of choral music, you can check out the Iris S. Levine Treble Choral Series with Pavane Publishing. It’s a great resource for anyone looking for quality repertoire for women’s voices. Or, if you're in LA, go see a VOX Femina show. It’s worth the ticket just to see that tenacity in action.