Conductor / Clinician
GUEST COnductor & Clinician
Rick has been involved with music education for over twenty-five years and is passionate about working with developing musicians, particularly those involved with jazz and creative music.
GUEST CONDUCTOR-SOLOIST
NJ All-Shore Jazz Band, 2024
Wyoming All-State Jazz Band, 2024
Wallenpaupack Area HS Jazz Band, 2023
Mansfield University Jazz Band, 2023
Kansas Wesleyan University Jazz Festival 2023
PMEA District 6 Jazz Band, 2023
KMEA Kentucky All-State Jazz Band, 2022
Millersville University Jazz Band, 2022
NYSSMA Regional All-State Jazz Band / Fredonia, 2021
PMEA District 3 Jazz Band, 2020
MMEA Maryland All-State Jazz Band, 2019
Great Plains Jazz Festival (Omaha), 2018
Hollidaysburg Area High School, 2018
Water Gap Jazz Orchestra, 2017
University of Kentucky Big Band Bash, 2017
PMEA District 10 Jazz Band, 2017
PMEA District 6 Jazz Band, 2017
Marin School of the Arts, 2016
PMEA District 7 Jazz Band, 2016
DMEA Delaware All-State Jazz Band, 2015
PMEA District 5 Jazz Band, 2015
IBA Iowa All-State Jazz Band, 2014
PMEA District 6 Jazz Band, 2014
PMEA District 8 Jazz Band, 2014
PMEA District 9 Jazz Band, 2014
PMEA District 7 Jazz Band, 2012
PMEA District 6 Jazz Band, 2011
Rick *loves* guest conducting opportunities like the ones listed above!
Clinician
Penn State University residency, 2024
Sacramento State University, 2024
UNO Great Plains Jazz Festival, 2024
Kutztown University, 2023
Red Land HS Jazz Festival, 2023
Fonda-Fultonville HS Jazz Festival, 2023
National Jazz Festival, 2022
Mechanicsburg Area High School, 2021 & 2022
University of Mary Jazz Festival, 2021
Clearfield Area Jr/Sr High School, 2019
Phoenixville Area High School, 2019
Souderton Area High School, 2019
Conrad Weiser HS Jazz Festival, 2018
Chantilly HS Jazz Festival, 2018
University of Nebraska—Omaha, 2018
Central Bucks SD residency, 2017
Oley Valley High School, 2017
Marin School of the Arts, 2016
Susquehanna University, 2015, 2012
Bucknell University, 2000-2018 several occasions
Lock Haven University, 2014
Mansfield University, 2014
University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2010
Penn State School of Music, 2008-2015 several occasions
Ithaca College, 2007
University of Kentucky, 2006
Over 100 of High Schools and Middle Schools throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Topics include
Jazz Ensemble
Improvisation
Saxophone
Composition and Arranging
Music Theory
Rick has a broad skill-set and has a rich history of presenting workshops to student musicians, having done so at over 100 middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the northeast and upper midwest.
IMPROVISATION PEDAGOGY
Rick has a longtime interest in improvisation pedagogy, emphasizing aural learning methods. He has been an invited presenter numerous times.
JEN (Jazz Education Network), 2017
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, 2015
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association annual conference, 2015, 2010
Iowa Bandmasters Association, 2015
Penn State University music education majors, 2012, 2013, 2014
Contributing author, Musicianship: Composing in Band and Orchestra (GIA, 2014)
Let's talk
Call or email Rick via his contact page.
Say what?
"Thanks so much for giving our students a fabulous experience, as a conductor as well as a clinician. You were great!" ~ Vanessa Sandlin, Delaware All-State coordinator
"Your excitement about the music brought out the energy of everyone." ~ Sylvia K., saxophonist in Marin School of the Arts Jazz Band I
"I have heard nothing but great reviews from students, parents, and directors!" ~Aaron Magaro, PMEA District 10 Jazz host
"Thank you for making my last year of All-State Jazz Band the most enjoyable I have had."
~ Tyler S., student drummer in Delaware All-State Jazz Band
"The kids had a blast working with you and learned a lot." ~Joel Chodoroff, Holicong MS band director
"I've never (before) had a composer describe what is actually going on in a piece in a story-like way. It made us feel like we were actually part of the story as we played it."
~ Katie O., trumpeter in Marin School of the Arts Jazz Band I