Eric Richards
Dr. Eric Richards is the Director of Bands and Jazz Studies at Sheridan College where he serves as Music Director of the Sheridan Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Jazztet, performs with the SC Faculty Jazztet and works with his faculty colleagues to develop program initiatives in recruiting, outreach, and curriculum development. 

From 2008 – 2015, Dr. Richards served as tenured Associate Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies in the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). At UNL, he mentored undergraduate through doctoral students in applied composition (classical and jazz/vernacular styles), taught related courses such as Orchestration and Jazz Arranging, and directed the award-winning UNL Jazz Orchestra “2.0”.

 His students are the recipients of major awards for their composition and arranging to include Downbeat Student Music Awards for Original Composition and Original Arrangement as well as the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. Dr. Richards is the recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Teaching Award in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

From 2004-2008, he served as Director of Instrumental Music at Midland University (Fremont, Neb.) where he directed the Concert Band, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Combo, High School Honour Band, Pep Band and taught all undergraduate music theory courses.

Dr. Richards’ work as a teacher is energized by his professional activity as a composer/arranger, conductor, and trombonist. A composer who defines himself as a “contemporary American eclectic”, he has written music for groups ranging from rural high school marching bands to chamber music ensembles to nationally recognized big bands and symphony orchestr

Eric’s music has been heard worldwide in performances and recordings by ensembles such as: 


• National Symphony Orchestra
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
• Boston Pops Orchestra
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• New York Pops Orchestra
• Chiara String Quartet
• US Army Field Band and Jazz Ambassadors

• USAF Band and the Airmen of Note

• USAF Academy Falconaires
• US Army Band (Pershing's Own)
• US Marine Band (The President's Own)

• Colorado Christian University Jazz Ensemble

• Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra
• University of North Texas Wind Ensemble
• Shanghai Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble

• Washington State University Jazz Band I

• Yellowstone Big Band
Performances in major concert venues across the United States, Europe, Asia and India include: Carnegie Hall (New York), St. Peter’s Church (New York), the Midwest Clinic (Chicago) and the Montreux, Nice, North Sea, and Vienne Jazz Festivals. Recent commissioned works include:

• The Pullman Project (premiered on 14 April 2015)

commissioned for the Washington State University Jazz Band I,

Dr. Greg Yasinitsky-director

• Ena Neo Pragma (premiered on 5 November 2015)

Commissioned for the Colorado Christian University Mainstream Jazz Ensemble,

Professor Mark Dorn-director

Current projects include a three-movement Fantasy for Bass Trombone and Jazz Orchestra commissioned by a consortium of several universities.

As a conductor and clinician, Eric has worked in a broad array of settings ranging from live concerts of jazz, concert, and chamber music to professional recording sessions. In May 2014, Dr. Richards conducted the Omaha Area Youth Symphony along with the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra in the premiere of his newly commissioned work for symphony orchestra and big band titled Duality. In 2013, he served as Guest Conductor/Composer-Arranger of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of select undergraduate musicians from colleges and universities along the Eastern Seaboard. Eric led this group in performances of his music in New York City and Cumberland, Maryland.