Richard Elliott was born and raised in McMinnville, Oregon where his mother
(Virginia Elliott) taught voice at Linfield College for 44 years and his father (Clifford Elliott) was the band director and also Supervisor of music for the McMinnville school district. While attending school in McMinnville Mr. Elliott had the privilege of playing under Mr. John McManus in both Jr. High and High School. Undergraduate work was done at Linfield College resulting in a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music education. A Master of Music with a major in trumpet performance was earned at Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. Elliott began his teaching career in Seaside, Oregon. After two years he moved to Newberg where he remained for the following 38 years. Upon retirement from public school teaching in 2006 he began his career at George Fox University as Director of Bands and assisting with the music education program. Mr. Elliott retired from the university in the spring of 2018 following a career of 52 years in music education.
Mr. Elliott is an active clinician and adjudicator in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Idaho and Alaska. Over the course of his career he has had the honor of receiving the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, from the Oregon Music Educators Association the Oregon Teacher of the Year and also the John C. McManus Distinguished Teacher Award, the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor, the Sudler Foundation Order of Merit and the National Federation of High School Music Educator of the Year, among others. He is a Past President of the Oregon Band Directors Association and the incoming President of the Northwest Bandmasters Association. He also serves on the board for the Western International Band Clinic University Division. He is married to the love of his live, Judy (50 years), has a daughter and son along with twin 10-year-old granddaughters.
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