My Short Bio.  Note that NOWHERE does it indicate that I am the least bit qualified to judge wine, food pairings,anything.  But — that will not stop me!   🙂

Dr. Richard  (Dick) McGee received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Denver.  After conducting high school band for five years, Richard moved to Las Vegas in 1981 to pursue a music career on the Strip.  He first worked at the MGM Grand, then became lead trombonist and assistant conductor of the Folies Bergere Orchestra at the Tropicana Hotel. He played or conducted over 4,400 performances at the Tropicana between 1982 and 1989.  In 1989, Richard began an eleven-year association with the Caesar’s Palace house orchestra, where he performed regularly with such stars as Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mathis, and many more.  While performing on the Strip in the evenings, Richard also served for two years as classical announcer and Music Director for KNPR, Las Vegas.

Also in 1989, Richard accepted a teaching position at the College of Southern Nevada (formerly CCSN).   In 1994, he became founding Artistic Director of the CCSN Performing Arts Center, which has since grown to become one of the valley’s busiest theatrical venues. In 1996, Richard earned his doctorate in Education Administration at UNLV.  Currently, he serves as Chair of the CSN Fine Arts Department, which serves over 6,000 students per semester in the areas of art, music, dance, and theatre.

Richard founded the Nevada Symphonic Wind Ensemble in 1987, and has served as its music director since its inception.  In 2008, Richard founded Nevada Pops, which since its incorporation has given numerous performances to enthusiastic audiences throughout the Las Vegas area.  For two seasons (1995-1996), he was Principal Pops Conductor for the Nevada Symphony Orchestra.  In 1998, Richard helped found the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and served as Associate Conductor and Educational Coordinator for twelve years.  Richard produced and conducted the Philharmonic’s Youth Concert Series, which brought over 150,000 young people to the concert hall to hear live symphonic music.  In September of 2000, Richard took a sabbatical from teaching to study with maestro Mark Elder at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.  In the spring of 2007, Richard served as a relief conductor for Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Hotel.

As a composer and arranger, Richard has written numerous works for the jazz component of the Grand Teton Music Festival.  In addition, he composed the Alma Mater for Nevada State College.  In 2005, Richard was commissioned by the City of Las Vegas to compose a symphonic work celebrating the 100th birthday of the city; the result, Las Vegas Rhapsody, was premiered on July 4th, 2005 by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, with special narration by Mayor Oscar Goodman.  His composition, Western Dance for Orchestra, was performed in 2008 in Carnegie Hall, New York.

Richard has been active in many arts organizations in the Las Vegas area.  He has received numerous honors and awards for music and teaching, including the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce 2002 Community Achievement Award for Arts and Entertainment, the 2012 Legacy of Achievement Award from the CSN Foundation, and the Nevada Music Educators Association 2004 Service to Music Education Award.  Richard and his wife Joan were jointly honored with the 2006 Nevada Governor’s Arts Award for Arts in Education.  In 2012, Richard was honored with the CSN Foundation’s Legacy of Achievement Award.  He continues to stay active as a performer, clinician and conductor throughout the Southwest.