Richard Crosby

Richard Crosby was born in Ashland OH and raised in Largo FL. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education (1979), a Master of Music degree in Piano and Wind Conducting (1981), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano (1990) from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. His principal piano teachers at CCM were John Meretta and Richard Morris. 

Crosby was appointed to the faculty of Eastern Kentucky University in 1986 where he serves as Professor of Music. Initiated in 1975 into the Eta-Omicron chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the fraternity for men in music, Crosby served as National President from 1994-97 and 2003-09.

Crosby’s compact disc recording, AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT, released in 1994, features works by Charles Griffes, Amy Beach, William Grant Still, David Guion, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Lee Hoiby, and George Gershwin. This album is available from PARMA Recordings. 

In addition to performing, Crosby has ventured into the world of composition. He has received four commissions from the Kentucky Music Teachers Association to write his Sonata for Trombone and Piano Op. 1, his Sonata for Viola and Piano Op. 10, his Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 19, and his Sonata for Violin and Piano Op. 27. Other works include:

Appalachian Variations Op. 2 for symphonic band, A Walt Whitman Portrait Op. 8 for chorus and symphonic band, By The Waters of Memory Op. 9 for solo piano, Variations Op. 13 for solo piano, Four Latin Dances Op.14 for Oboe and Piano, Remembrance Op. 16 for Marimba and Piano, Ricercare Op. 18 and Canzona Op. 20 for trombone ensemble, Piano Sonata Op. 21 in b minor, commissioned by SAI Fraternity and published by C.F. Peters, Lyric Duet for Two Trombones and Piano Op. 26., and Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Minor Op. 27.

He also composed the soundtrack to the documentary, The Essential Eastern, which describes the history of Eastern Kentucky University. It is available on KET.org. He is the author of The All-In-One Laboratory Piano Course, published by Kendall Hunt and Thoughts on Life and Leadership, published by KDP.