School of Music

Cangro

Richard Cangro, Ph.D.

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

Originally from Staten Island, NY, Richard Cangro, Ph. D., is a Professor of Music, Director of the Music Education program, and Director of the Symphony Orchestra 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 presented keynote presentations for music educator conferences and has been invited to guest teach at universities in Turkey, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Poland, Philippines, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ecuador, China, and Canada. Dr. Cangro has also provided professional development for music educators at events in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, China, England, Finland, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Myanmar, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, and Taiwan (ROC). His articles on music learning and teaching have been published in journals including Update: 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, as well as 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, as well as conduct university and school ensembles in China and the Philippines. He has conducted several school, festival, community, and various adult ensembles and is currently the music director/conductor of the Monmouth Civic Orchestra at Monmouth College and the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra.

At WIU, Dr. Cangro coordinates the music education program, directs the Symphony Orchestra, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education and conducting, and supervises student teachers. Dr. Cangro is the WIU 2024 Distinguished University Professor.