Richard Summers (b.1952) is an educator, performer, and arranger, originally from Wheeling West Virginia. He was a member of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point from 1972-1975 on clarinet and alto saxophone, after which he attended Juilliard, receiving his BM and MM degrees in music performance on clarinet. His teachers at Juilliard were Leon Russianoff and Joseph Allard. Mr. Summers has taught instrumental music for over 30 years in Kinnelon and Pequannock, New Jersey and has served as adjunct professor for concert band, clarinet, and woodwinds at William Paterson University. He organized the William Paterson Summer Honors Band and has conducted the North Jersey Area Band and NJ Region I Intermediate and Junior Bands. He has also served as president for NJ Area Band.
As a performer, Mr. Summers has been a member of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, New Jersey Pops Orchestra, The Orchestra at William Paterson, The New Music Ensemble, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, North Jersey Philharmonic, and has been principal clarinetist, soloist, and assistant conductor and arranger with the Ridgewood Concert Band for 22 years.