Dr. John W. Richmond is stepping down from his position as director of the Glenn Korff School of Music to become the Dean of the College of Music at the University of North Texas in Denton. He begins his new position on Aug. 1.
“The Glenn Korff School of Music is a better school because John Richmond was here,” said Charles O’Connor, the endowed dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. “Through his leadership the School has reached new levels of national excellence. We cannot thank him enough for all he has given us, and we wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”
A public farewell reception will be held for Richmond on Wednesday, June 29 from 4-6 p.m. in Sheldon Museum of Art. If you plan to attend, please R.S.V.P. to Rachel Danay at rachel.danay@unl.edu or (402) 472-9354 by Friday, June 24.
The University of North Texas’ College of Music is a comprehensive music school with the second-largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). It developed one of the first jazz studies programs in the country and remains one of the top schools for jazz.
Richmond has been at UNL since 2003, where he has guided the Glenn Korff School of Music in the development of a strategic plan, reaccreditation to the NASM, initial accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Dance, the creation of new Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree programs in jazz studies, the creation of a new Ph.D. degree in music, the recruitment of the Chiara String Quartet, the creation of a DMA string quartet residency, the upgrading of technology resources for faculty and students, the successful launching of web streaming of selected concerts, as well as helping the university and University of Nebraska Foundation expand its financial resources to support music and dance such that Glenn Korff School endowments have quadrupled to more than $21 million.
“My time at UNL has been deeply meaningful and satisfying,” Richmond said. “The faculty, staff and students are superb in every respect. I leave UNL with profound gratitude for the tremendous support I have received during my 13 years here and with best wishes for a future filled with ever-growing momentum and accomplishment. There really is no place like Nebraska.”
Prior to his appointment at UNL, Richmond served as professor and in various administrative capacities in the School of Music at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
He earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in music education from William Jewell College, a master’s degree in conducting from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a Ph.D. in music education from Northwestern University. In addition, he has studied conducting and music education in Austria at the Vienna International Music Center and the Orff Schulwerk Institute in Salzburg.
O’Connor said a national search will begin this Fall for a new director for the Glenn Korff School of Music, and an interim director will be named soon.