Resident Conductor Ernest Richardson enters his 19th year with the Omaha Symphony in the 2011/12 season. In addition to conducting the successful Symphony Pops series, he is the chief architect of the Omaha Symphony’s outreach and education programs.

             Richardson is also music director of the Steamboat Springs Orchestra in Steamboat Springs, CO. His summers are spent in Steamboat Springs, where he is artistic director and CEO of the innovative Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory.

             Richardson's achievements in Omaha were foreshadowed by his success with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, where he began his conducting career. He founded and served as music director and conductor for the Phoenix Chamber Players (1987) and the Phoenix Symphony Baroque Ensemble (1989). In addition, he guest conducted the Phoenix Symphony during the 1993/94 season. Richardson came to the Phoenix Symphony as a violist in 1984, appearing later as a soloist and acting associate principal. In 1990, his talents were added to the Phoenix Symphony String Quartet.

Richardson works with young musicians and has been guest conductor and clinician for regional and all-state orchestras in Arizona and Nebraska, the Phoenix Symphony Guild Youth Orchestra, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, as well as festivals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the University of Georgia. He has also guest conducted with the Nashville Symphony, Opera Omaha, Fort Collins (Colo.) Symphony, Battle Creek (Mich.) Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Cheyenne Symphony.

Ernest’s compositions and arrangements for orchestra have been performed by the Phoenix Chamber Players, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Omaha Symphony. Richardson’s chamber music has been performed throughout the United States.

Ernest began studying the violin at the age of three with his father, Dr. Vernal Richardson. He continued his string education at Indiana University with Tadeusz Wronski, later concentrating on the viola at the University of Michigan with Donald McInnes. Richardson studied conducting with Samuel Krachmalnick and Gustav Meier. While attending the University of Michigan, Richardson also studied composition with William Albright.