Richard Alvarado

Richard Alvarado is a Band Director at Keller Middle School in Keller, Texas. Richard is a native of Mansfield, Texas, and a graduate of Lake Ridge High School. He graduated with Honors from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
 

During his time at TCU, he served as Principal Tuba of the TCU School of Music, Drum Major of The Pride of TCU Marching Band, and President of the TCU Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Service Fraternity. He was also a finalist for the TCU School of Music’s Nordan Young Artist Award. His time in the TCU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony included performances at the 2018 American Bandmasters Association Convention, the 2019 College Band Directors National Association Conference, and the 2019 and 2020 Texas Music Educators Association Convention, respectively. The TCU Tuba Quartet also earned the Ensemble Bronze Medal at the 2018 South-Central Regional Tuba & Euphonium Conference. He has performed collaboratively with artists including Demondrae Thurman, Jens Lindemann, and Boston Brass. His collegiate mentors include Richard Murrow, Bobby Francis, Brian Youngblood, Matthew Garrett, and Dr. Laura Singletary.
 

While at Keller Middle School, the Wind Ensemble performed at the 2022 Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas, and the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The Keller Middle School Symphonic Band has also consistently received Superior Ratings at UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluations, has been a “Runner-Up” at the prestigious North Texas Festival of Distinction, and has been named a “Commended Winner” in the Citation of Excellence National Wind Band Honors project.
 

Richard has been involved in the marching arts over the years. He spent three seasons as a member of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio, earning the Outstanding Rookie Member award in 2017, and the Outstanding Brass Performer award in 2018. He has assisted with the marching band programs as a visual instructor at Aledo High School, Lake Ridge High School, and Keller High School. He currently serves as a tuba instructor for the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and is on the Educational Team for the Texas A&M University - Commerce Leadership, Drum Major, & Color Guard Camp. He also serves as a Visual Consultant for the Gulf Breeze High School Marching Band in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
 

Richard is also an active tubist in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He serves as Principal Tuba of the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mansfield Wind Symphony under the direction of Brian Merrill, and the Dallas Brass Band. He has also subbed for groups including the Dallas Winds Brass Quintet and Richardson Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet.
 

His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, International Tuba-Euphonium Association. Outside of teaching, Richard enjoys serving in the music ministry at his church, traveling, performing, and spending time with family. His wife Rachel is an elementary music teacher in Bedford, Texas.