Bio:
Erik W. Richards, 2024, Associate Professor (tenure track), PhD in Music Education – Florida State University, MM in Music Education and Conducting – Virginia Commonwealth University, BS in Music Education – Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Erik W. Richards is the Director of Athletic Bands and an Associate Professor of Music at The University of Arkansas at Monticello. In this capacity, Dr. Richards directs the UAM Wind Symphony, co-directs The Pride of Southeast Arkansas “Boll Weevil” Marching Band, teaches studio saxophone and clarinet, instrumental conducting, and other classes within the UAM Division of Music. Dr. Richards comes to UAM from Delta State University, where he served for nearly a decade as the Director of Bands, Associate Professor of Music, and Coordinator of Music Education.
Dr. Richards appears throughout the country as a guest conductor and adjudicator. He has presented clinic sessions for the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Louisiana Music Education Association, Alabama Music Education Association, Pennsylvania Music Education Association, and Tennessee Music Education Association on topics within band and instrumental music education pedagogy. Additionally, Dr. Richards’s original research has been published in in Contributions to Music Education and Research Perspectives in Music Education. He is also a contributor to the GIA Teaching Music through Performance in Band series and the Teaching Music through Performance in Middle School Band series. His current area of work is the music of teacher, composer, and Delta State University alumnus, Samuel Holloman.
Dr. Richards received the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music degree in Music Education and Conducting from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, the Arkansas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Richards is also an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Dr. Richards is an Artist/Clinician for Jupiter Band Instruments, Inc.