Richard Brown enjoys a multi- faceted career as a professional musician, an educator and a businessman. He is now Professor Emeritus at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He is Principal Percussionist and orchestra personnel manager of both The Houston Grand Opera and Jackson Hole’s Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestras. At the GTMF he is also the Artistic Advisor. He leads the Richard Brown Orchestra, one of Houston's most popular dance bands that play large social galas, special events and weddings.
Richard began his musical career at the age of 18 playing with The Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Lyric Opera. After his stint with The United States Army Band in Washington DC, he moved to Houston to join The Houston Symphony, a position he held for 8 years. To pursue another facet of his musical interests, he then moved to New York City as a freelance percussionist working on Broadway playing shows such as West Side Story, Showboat and Shirley MacLaine, as well as working in the recording studios and subbing with The Metropolitan Opera and The New York Philharmonic. During this time, he also began working for Ann Margret performing with her for 15 years in all her live shows, both in Las Vegas and on tour.
In 1985, The Shepherd School appointed Richard as full time Professor of Percussion. He then began to play regularly with The Houston Symphony and appreciates the 12 years he spent working under the baton of conductor, Christoph Eschenbach. He became the personnel manager for The Grand Teton Music Festival and soon to follow for The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. This led him to an interest in the business of music, eventually creating Richard Brown Music, a company that hires musicians for most of Houston's freelance concerts and several of the area's prominent churches. He is proud to say that in any given year, he offers over 2,000 employment opportunities to Houston's professional musicians.
Since retiring from teaching at Rice, Richard now pursues his passion of creating great musical events, adding to his already robust repertoire.
Artist's website: www.richardbrownmusic.com
Houston Grand Opera Program Article: The Many Faceted Musical Life of Richard Brown
