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Rick Ghinelli

Regional Director
Rick Ghinelli

Quick Facts:

  • 30+ year career in fine arts education
  • Host of the Music Administrators Collaborative (MAC)
  • University of Houston (BA) and Sam Houston State University (MA) graduate

Profile Highlights:

Rick joined CutTime after a decade with Conn Selmer’s Division of Education, where he was Director of Music Administration Outreach and Educational Support Manager, Southwest Region and provided customer support for their instrument inventory system. He is also the director of The Music Administration Collaborative (The 'MAC'), a unique source of professional development, communication, and networking for today’s music administrators and program leaders. Rick has devoted himself to music education, serving in many capacities throughout his career, including serving as president of the Texas Music Administrators Conference (now TFAA, formerly TMAC). He has done presentations and staff development sessions for a number of conferences, universities, and school districts across Texas and the nation, including the Texas Music Educators Association convention, the National Association for Music Education National Conference, the National School Board Association National Conference, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 2014, Rick was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus in Music Education from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and in 2019 he was honored with the Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association. Rick received the 2022 Keynote Award from the Foundation For Music Education.

Rick is a music education graduate from the University of Houston and his major instrument was trumpet. During his undergrad years, Rick performed in the marching band, wind ensemble, and Cougar Brass. He began his career in the Spring Independent School District (Houston, Texas) as a middle school band director. During that time, his bands earned a number of awards on both the local and state levels, and he was named Teacher of the Year for his school. Rick later earned his Masters of Administration from Sam Houston State University, and he continued his career in Spring ISD as an elementary assistant principal, a middle school assistant principal, and a middle school principal. In 2000, he assumed the role of Director of Performing and Visual Arts for the district, a position he held until his retirement in 2013. While serving in this position, fine arts programs in Spring ISD gained notoriety for their excellent work and were frequent recipients of the highest honors at the local, state, and national levels of competition. Rick also performed with the Houston Texans Bull Pen Pep Band for 10 seasons.

Rick and his wife Teresa live in Spring, TX with their dog and enjoy traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.

Come See Me at:

The 78th Annual Midwest Clinic

Articles by Rick Ghinelli