biography.

Richard Peters is now enjoying his retirement after 45 years as a High School and Middle School band director, District Music Coordinator, and District Fine Arts Coordinator. Mr. Peters now
spends his time helping other directors through private lessons and sectionals and now devotes his extra time to his band compositions and arrangements.

A native of San Antonio, Richard is the son of officers (ministers) in The Salvation Army which gave him ample opportunity to live around the south and southwest while enjoying the rich history of brass banding unique to the Salvation Army. Those opportunities have allowed Richard to travel to the United Kingdom, Mexico and Canada as a performer in addition to performing in many states. He credits his parents’ desire to have him learn an instrument at the age of 5 for his love of percussion and every part of being a band director. 

Richard is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he was a student of Dr. Shermon Hong, Percussion Director, Dr. Joe Barry Mullins, Wind Ensemble Conductor, and Dr. William Gower, Director of Orchestral Studies and Maestro of the University Symphonic Orchestra. Richard received his master’s degree in Music from Mississippi College under the guidance of Dr. John Hanbery. Richard spent 14 wonderful years as a band director in Mississippi but returned home to Texas here he taught the remaining 31 years in the Rio Grande Valley and the San Antonio metropolitan area.

Richard is married to Nellie Cruz Peters, herself a former member of the McAllen HS “Bulldog” Band of McAllen TX. Both Richard and Nellie are most proud of their children Brittany, a Band Director at Manvel H.S. in Alvin, TX, and son-in-law Beau Hunter, also a Band Director at Pearland M.S. in Pearland, TX. They are parents of a son named Ewan. Richard’s son Matthew is a United States Marine Corps veteran, and a former fire fighter who currently lives in the eastern United States with his wife Heather and their 3 children Weston, Colbie and Jemma.

Publications.

Ridgecrest Holiday

$75.00

Reunion (March)

$65.00

The Loyal Legion March

$80.00