Ernest Richardson took the helm as SSO
Music Director in the fall of 2004, and has
overseen the transformation of the
organization from a community orchestra
to a polished professional ensemble.
Ernest is also the Artistic Director and
CEO of the Rocky Mountain Summer
Conservatory, a nationally recognized
summer music school and festival located
in Steamboat Springs.
Ernest Richardson is in his 13th year as resident conductor with the Omaha Symphony. In addition to conducting the wildly successful SuperPops series, he is the chief architect of the Omaha Symphony's outreach and education programs, including the Family Concert series, Mission: Imagination, Concerts for Youth, Music Alive! and Music Mentors.
Richardson's achievements in Omaha were foreshadowed by his success with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, where he began his conducting career. He founded and served as music director and conductor for the Phoenix Chamber Players (1987) and the Phoenix Symphony Baroque Ensemble (1989). In addition, he guest conducted the Phoenix Symphony during the 1993-94 season.
Richardson came to the Phoenix symphony as a violist in 1984, appearing later as a soloist and acting associate principal. In 1990, his talents were added to the Phoenix Symphony String Quartet.
His compositions and arrangements for orchestra have been performed by the Phoenix Chamber Players, the Phoenix Symphony and the Omaha Symphony. Richardson's chamber music has been performed throughout the United States and Europe, and has been broadcast on Boston's public radio station, WGBH.
Richardson works with young musicians and has been guest conductor and clinician for regional and all-state orchestras in Arizona and Nebraska, the Phoenix Symphony Guild Youth Orchestra, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, as well as festivals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the University of Georgia.
He has guest conducted with the Nashville Symphony, Opera Omaha, Fort Collins (Colo.) Symphony, Battle Creek (Mich.) Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Cheyenne Symphony and the Nashville Symphony.
Richardson began studying the violin at the age of three with his father, Dr. Vernal Richardson. He continued his string education at Indiana University with Tadeusz Wronski, later concentrating on the viola at the University of Michigan with Donald McInnes. Richardson studied conducting with such luminaries as Samuel Krachmalnick and Gustav Meier. While attending the University of Michigan, Richardson also studied composition with William Albright.
At RMSC, Richardson uses his black belt training in Tae Kwon Do to help students better prepare for the physical rigors of music-making.
He resides in Omaha and is married to soprano Anne DeVries. They have three children, Derek, Clare and David.
Ernest Richardson is in his 13th year as resident conductor with the Omaha Symphony. In addition to conducting the wildly successful SuperPops series, he is the chief architect of the Omaha Symphony's outreach and education programs, including the Family Concert series, Mission: Imagination, Concerts for Youth, Music Alive! and Music Mentors.
Richardson's achievements in Omaha were foreshadowed by his success with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, where he began his conducting career. He founded and served as music director and conductor for the Phoenix Chamber Players (1987) and the Phoenix Symphony Baroque Ensemble (1989). In addition, he guest conducted the Phoenix Symphony during the 1993-94 season.
Richardson came to the Phoenix symphony as a violist in 1984, appearing later as a soloist and acting associate principal. In 1990, his talents were added to the Phoenix Symphony String Quartet.
His compositions and arrangements for orchestra have been performed by the Phoenix Chamber Players, the Phoenix Symphony and the Omaha Symphony. Richardson's chamber music has been performed throughout the United States and Europe, and has been broadcast on Boston's public radio station, WGBH.
Richardson works with young musicians and has been guest conductor and clinician for regional and all-state orchestras in Arizona and Nebraska, the Phoenix Symphony Guild Youth Orchestra, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, as well as festivals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the University of Georgia.
He has guest conducted with the Nashville Symphony, Opera Omaha, Fort Collins (Colo.) Symphony, Battle Creek (Mich.) Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Cheyenne Symphony and the Nashville Symphony.
Richardson began studying the violin at the age of three with his father, Dr. Vernal Richardson. He continued his string education at Indiana University with Tadeusz Wronski, later concentrating on the viola at the University of Michigan with Donald McInnes. Richardson studied conducting with such luminaries as Samuel Krachmalnick and Gustav Meier. While attending the University of Michigan, Richardson also studied composition with William Albright.
At RMSC, Richardson uses his black belt training in Tae Kwon Do to help students better prepare for the physical rigors of music-making.
He resides in Omaha and is married to soprano Anne DeVries. They have three children, Derek, Clare and David.