Richard Cuoco is in his ninth year as Band Director at Wilbraham Middle School. Under his direction, the WMS Bands have earned numerous honors and awards, top ratings at festivals, and they were invited to perform at the 2023 MA Music Educators All-State Conference.

      Originally from Pepperell, MA, Richard holds a Master of Music Education from the University of Hartford and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He began studying piano at age 4 before taking up the trumpet in elementary school band. By high school, he was performing on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and French horn. At UMass Amherst, he studied French horn with Laura Klock and Josh Michal and performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble I. He also played trumpet in the Minuteman Marching Band. After graduating, Richard began studying percussion and is now a passionate drummer.​

      Richard has served on the Western District Executive Board of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association for the past seven years, holding the positions of Treasurer (2019–present), Webmaster (2025–present), and Chairperson (2024–2026). He frequently performs with university, community, and semi-professional ensembles throughout the region and has appeared as a guest conductor with the Bombyx Brass Collective and the Amherst Community Band. In addition to music education and performance, Richard has professional experience in photography and video production, having worked for several small television studios and production companies. His photography can be found in galleries, publications, and online at CuocoPhoto.com