Richard Cuoco is a passionate teacher, musician, and photographer from Massachusetts, currently working as the Band Director at Wilbraham Middle School in Wilbraham, MA. As a freelance photographer, he regularly shoots portraits, events, landscapes, and urban scenes. In the past, he has worked for several TV stations and video production companies, specializing in post-production. Richard recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a MA teaching license in grades K-12 music.

        Richard’s musical training began at age four with classical piano, and then trumpet and jazz piano at age nine. He started playing horn two years later, which became his primary instrument. Today he mostly enjoys playing piano, drums, and trumpet. He has received numerous awards and honors for his participation and performances in various ensembles as well as his efforts to advocate for music education in public schools. He has taught lessons on brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments to students of all ages.

        While studying at UMass, Richard played horn in the Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble 1, and Horn Choir. He played trumpet in the Minuteman Marching Band for two years, during one of which he served on the Administrative Staff. He was also an active member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the oldest and largest music fraternity in the country. He served as Historian on the chapter’s Executive Committee and directed the Sinfonia Big Band for one year. Throughout his entire college career, he worked at the UMass Digital Media Lab, where he was a digital media consultant and 3D printing assistant.

        Richard’s photography can be found in galleries, publications, and online. A story about Richard and his photography was the centerfold feature in the Spring 2017 edition of Bookmark, the UMass Libraries magazine. His work can be viewed at www.richardcuoco.com. His other interests include politics, psychology, environmentalism, graphic design, and barbering.     Last updated March 2018