Dr. Colleen Richardson is Coordinator of Bands at Western University, where she directs the Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in conducting and instrumental ensemble pedagogy. Under her direction, the Western University Wind Ensemble has produced two CDs, Apparitions and Explorations. In addition, Richardson co-supervises the Western Young Winds Program with Dr. Kevin Watson. Established in 2013, this transformative program offers real world experience for the undergraduate music students selected to teach/conduct, as well as an enrichment program for local grade 6-9 band students. Recently, due to the program’s popularity, it expanded to include the Western Youth Wind Ensemble for local grade 10-12 band students. This ensemble is taught/conducted by a selected graduate student, with some undergraduate volunteer support.

Besides being active as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor across Canada, Richardson has judged contests around the world, including the Certamen International Band Festival (Palau de Musica, Valencia, Spain), the World Music Contest (Kerkrade, The Netherlands), the New York International Music Festival (Carnegie Hall), and the Singapore International Band Festival. From 2022-2024, she served as the first female President of WASBE (The World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) and chaired WASBE’s Artistic Planning Committee for their 2024 conference in Gwangju, South Korea. International guest conducting and research presentation invitations have included travel to Brazil, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Wales, and the US.

In 2018, Richardson was awarded the Canadian Band Association’s “International Band Award” for her contribution to the international band movement. In that same year, she presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Her publications include eleven study guides for the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, as well as articles for the Canadian Winds, and the Canadian Music Educator Journal. In 2012, Richardson produced and edited the Hunsberger DVD within GIA’s DVD set entitled Three Icons: Frank Battisti, Donald Hunsberger, and H. Robert Reynolds.

A native of Winnipeg, Richardson earned her first degree from Brandon University (BMus Ed) and proceeded to teach music for fourteen years in the Manitoba public school system. She continued her studies at the University of Calgary (Wind Conducting Diploma, MMus Conducting) and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA Wind Conducting). While in Cincinnati completing her doctorate, she co-directed the Tri-State Chamber Players, as well as served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. In 2005, Richardson became Assistant Professor of Music Education and the Wind Ensemble Director at Converse College in South Carolina. She joined the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University in 2006.