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Dr. John Keil Richards has conducted the Salem TubaChristmas since 1990 when we first started at the Oregon State Capitol Building. Dr. Richards holds degrees from Lewis and Clark College, The University of Southern California and the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. He has directed the Portland Symphonic Youth Band since 1994, Beaverton Community Band and formerly served as Associate Dean of Faculty, Director of Instrumental Music and Chairman of the Education Department at Lewis and Clark College. He is currently conductor of the Beaverton Community Band.

Dr. Richards was Principal Tubist of the Oregon Symphony from 1947 until his retirement at the end of the 1999 season. He serves as guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. In addition, he is the leader of the "Polished Brass", an ensemble composed of select professional brass players, and founder and director of the Oregon Civil Wall Band, specializing in American music dating from the Civil War period.

Every year since it's inception in 1990, he has written for & conducted the TubaChristmas concerts in Salem and Portland which together attract tuba players from all over the USA numbering almost 400 tubist.