Richard J. Whitley

Originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, Richard J. Whitley is a freelance conductor, composer/arranger, music educator, music director and oboist. He also serves as a certified judge with the National Judges Association and Tournament of Bands. Mr. Whitley holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Oboe Performance from Davis & Elkins College (Elkins, WV) and the Master of Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from Radford University (Radford, VA).

Throughout his music career, Mr. Whitley has performed with a variety of performance groups to include the Davis & Elkins College Concert Band, Chamber Winds, Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, as well as the Radford University Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Choir. He has also been a regular and guest performer with the Blacksburg Community Band, Blacksburg Community Strings, Roanoke College Wind Ensemble, and Winds of the Blue Ridge.

As a conductor and Music Director, Mr. Whitley has lead large and small ensembles at both Davis & Elkins College and Radford University. He also served as Music Director for three musicals including Baby, performed by the Radford University Theatre Department, Once Upon a Mattress, performed by New River Stage (Blacksburg, VA), and The Sound of Music performed by Attic Productions (Fincastle, VA). His most recent musical theatre appearances include A Christmas Story (Harp) performed by Summer Musical Enterprise (Blacksburg, VA) and Anything Goes (Alto Saxophone) performed by the Radford University Theatre Department.

Mr. Whitley holds professional membership in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA), Kappa Psi Kappa Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, and the National Alliance for Black School Educators.