Richard Cangro, Ph.D.

Professor, Music Education
Browne 203
Email: RM-Cangro@wiu.edu
Phone: (309) 298-3114

Originally from Staten Island, NY, Richard M. Cangro, Ph. D., is a Professor and Director of Music Education, and the interim orchestra director at Western Illinois University. He was formerly a public school band and orchestra director for 15 years in Connecticut, as well as a youth ensemble conductor and chamber music coach for the Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT). While teaching in Connecticut, he also served for 10 years as a beginning teacher assessor for the State Department of Education. Dr. Cangro received a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, a Master of Music Education from the Hartt School, and a Ph.D. in Music Education also from Hartt.

A two-time Fulbright grant recipient, Dr. Cangro is active as a presenter, curriculum consultant, adjudicator, and conductor. He has presented workshops and sessions for several school district in-services and at numerous music educator conferences throughout the US. He has guest taught at universities in Turkey, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Poland, Philippines, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ecuador, China, and Canada, and has presented professional development at events in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, China, England, Montenegro, Myanmar, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, and Taiwan (ROC). His articles on music learning and teaching have been published in journals including Applications of Research in Music Education, Selected Papers from the 6th International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education, American Music Teacher, and Music Educators Journal.

Musically, Dr. Cangro has a wide range of performance experience as a trumpet player and conductor. As a trumpet player he has performed in several ensembles and orchestras in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, and Iowa, to performances with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He currently performs with the Knox Galesburg Symphony and the Jacksonville (IL) Symphony as well as with various groups in Illinois. As a conductor, he has been honored to lead concerts with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony and Quincy Symphony, and has conducted several school, festival, community, and various adult ensembles. He is currently the music director/conductor of the Monmouth Civic Orchestra at Monmouth College and the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra.

At WIU, Dr. Cangro conducts the University Symphony Orchestra, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education and supervises student teachers. He serves on several university committees and is the Midwest regional vice president of the national Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society, promoting and supporting internationalization efforts in the community. Dr. Cangro is the WIU 2024 Distinguished University Professor.