Richard B. Goss, Director
Richard B. Goss received his Bachelors Degree in music education and Masters Degree in trumpet performance from Arkansas State University. While teaching there, he assisted with both the jazz ensemble and marching band. Mr. Goss has completed additional studies at Tanglewood in Massachusetts, the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, as well as at the University at Buffalo. He taught at Holland Central Schools for five years, where his bands received numerous honors, including the selection of the Holland High School Concert Band to perform at the 1993 Eastern Division Conference of M.E.N.C. Mr. Goss is currently in his twenty-second year at Lancaster High School where he conducts the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and the 2011 & 2013 NYSFBC LS2 Division State Champion Marching Redskins. His bands have received numerous Gold and Gold with Distinction awards at NYSSMA Major Organization Festivals. He established a prestigious Guest Artist Series to bring talented professional musicians and conductors to lecture and perform with the LHS Bands. In 1999 and in 2006, The LHS Symphonic Band, under his direction, was invited to perform at the New York State Band Directors Association Symposium in Syracuse, NY. In 2003, The Lancaster Town Band also performed a concert/clinic at the NYSBDA Symposium. In 2004, The LHS Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the 69th Annual NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY.
Mr. Goss has been music director for the Lancaster Town Band since 1997 and was instrumental in construction of the Richard E. Pascucci Memorial Band Shell, a facility dedicated in 2010. He served as Chairman of the Lancaster Central Schools Music Department from 2000-2011.Under his leadership, Lancaster was twice named (2001, 2011) as one of the 'Top Communities in America for Music Education’ by the National Association of Music Merchants. In 2001, Lancaster High School was named a Grammy Signature School.
Mr. Goss performs with numerous ensembles including the Niagara Frontier Brass Quintet (NFBQ), Easy Street Big Band, and is a past president of the Erie County Wind Ensemble. He has studied trumpet with Richard Jorgensen and David Kuehn, and composition with Jared Spears. He has been a guest conductor and soloist at venues all around Western New York. In 2007 he was selected to receive the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/ECMEA Award for Excellence in Music Education. He resides in Lancaster with his wife Margaret, and three children, Elizabeth, Michael, and Amanda.