Richard Lawn earned undergraduate and graduate degrees
from the Eastman School of Music. He has served as Director of Jazz Studies, Chair
of the Department of Music, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The University
of Texas at Austin. He is currently Treasurer of IAJE and Dean of the College
of Performing Arts at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Grants from
the National Endowment of the Arts have supported his work as a composer, and
as a member of the Nova Saxophone Quartet he has recorded on the Musical Heritage
Society, Crystal and Equilibrium labels. Additionally, the Sea Breeze record label
has released Unknown Soldiers, a CD recorded by the Third Coast Jazz Orchestra
that features his compositions and arrangements. His arrangement of Donna Lee
was recorded by the Bobby Sanabria Big Band on his 2001 Grammy-nominated CD, Live
in Clave!!! (Arabesque Recordings). Dr. Lawn's compositions are published with
several companies, including Alfred Music Publishing Co., Inc., and his textbooks -
The Jazz Ensemble Directors Manual, Jazz Theory and Practice, and Experiencing
Jazz (released Spring 2005) - have become staples among jazz educators and students.
Selmer has sponsored his clinics, performances and guest conducting appearances
in 12 states.