Richard Gard enjoys a successful career as a conductor, composer, teacher and producer with over 40 years experience leading and performing in orchestras, choirs, bands, and chamber groups. Richard holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and two Masters degrees from Yale University where he was a student of Marguerite Brooks. He earned his BA degree from California State University, Long Beach, under the tutelage of Frank Pooler and Julien Musafia. Richard has received several prizes and awards, including two named scholarships and three academic prizes at Yale, two Connecticut State Merit Awards for teaching, and a national teaching award from NISOD.
Gard's choral arrangements, translations and compositions have achieved national publication and production. Besides creating new performing editions of music he publishes several articles each year, with a particular emphasis on the influence of courtly dance within Baroque sacred vocal music.
Richard’s performances include tours throughout the United States and the United Kingdom including professional appearances in Salisbury Cathedral (2000), York Minster (2000), Carnegie Hall (2001, 2006), St. Paul's Cathedral (2003), Woolsey Hall (2000 - 2007),
Palace Theater (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008), Oakdale Chevrolet Theater (2004 - 2006), Mohegan Sun Arena (2009), Boston Symphony Hall (2007), and
Temple B'nai Israel (2008). Future performances include collaborations with Yale University, the
Waterbury Symphony and
Waterbury First Congregational Church through 2011.
Richard and his wife, Evelyn, share six children.