RICK YANCEY is co-conductor of the Sugar Land Winds, a wind ensemble composed of band directors and private teachers in the Houston area. He was a 2019 inductee into the Texas Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame. He was director of bands at Stratford High School from 1985–1991 and Elkins High School from 1992–2006.
Mr. Yancey has broad experience teaching band and orchestra in Texas. He grew up in Texas City Texas, where he played in the Texas City bands under Mr. Robert Renfroe, and won All State honors twice. While at the University of Houston, he was principal clarinet of the University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble under A. Clyde Roller and James Matthews. Mr. Yancey attended the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and was principal clarinet of the Chamber Symphony. As a clarinetist, he has performed with the Rapides and Lake Charles Orchestras in Louisiana, and in Houston with Theater Under the Stars (TUTS), the Houston Ballet and Houston Pops Orchestra.
He has taken his high school bands and orchestras to New York, Washington DC, Durango Colorado, Chicago, London England, Nassau, and to the Rose Parade. As head band director at Elkins High School in Fort Bend ISD, the Elkins Band won 14 consecutive UIL sweepstakes awards and were outstanding in class at numerous festivals. After retiring from Elkins, he was orchestra director and director of Instrumental Music for Lamar High School in Houston for three years.
Mr. Yancey is the Managing Director of the Mark of Excellence project for The Foundation for Music Education, and is on their Board of Trustees. This project serves over 500 musical ensembles annually and provides them with feedback from master adjudicators. He is an active judge of band and orchestra competitions, conducts region honor bands, and presents staff development for school districts.
He is married to Jill Yancey, former band director at Sugar Land Middle School, and has a son, Chris, who is Director of Bands at Stratford High School. The Yancey family loves to spend time with grandchildren Sadie, Samantha, and Cole.