UW Sings

Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Richard Carrick is a conductor, singer, and educator. He is currently pursuing a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington where he studies with Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers. Richard completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly, Richard studied conducting with Dr. Tom Davies and Voice from Jackie Bauer Kreitzer. During his time in San Luis Obispo he worked with the Central Coast Children’s Choir as the Apprentice Choir director and assistant director to the Boy’s Chorus. He also conducted the choirs at the Community Church of Atascadero. Richard Continued his education at the University of Oregon where he earned a M.M. in Choral Conducting under the direction of Dr. Sharon Paul. While at the University of Oregon, Richard continued to study voice with Eric Mentzel. Following his time in Oregon, Richard returned to his home town and worked with the San Francisco Boys Chorus as the Director of the Apprentice Choirs and served on the educational outreach team.

From 2012 until 2018 Richard lived in the Twin Cities and served as the Artistic Director of the South Metro Chorale and Artistic Director of Calliope Women's Chorus. He also served as Assistant Conductor of the Oratorio Society of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. Matthew Mehaffey. As a church musician, Richard served as Music Director at Hamline Church in St. Paul as well as Music Director at Glendale United Methodist Church. Richard taught music at Burroughs Community School and Hope Academy in Minneapolis, and operated a thriving private voice studio. Richard has sung professionally with the Minnesota Chorale and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorale, the Oregon Bach Festival, and professional chamber choirs including Magpies and Ravens, and IMPLS.

This last academic year, Ben Luedcke was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Monmouth College where he conducted the Monmouth Chorale and Chamber Choir, and taught music theory and voice.  Ben has also served as faculty at Grinnell College, where he conducted both the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society, and taught an introduction to music theory and voice.  Ben is currently the director of Voces Aestatis, a Wisconsin-based professional choir that specializes in the a cappella repertoire of the sixteenth century.  Additionally, he is the founder and artistic director of Madison Summer Choir, a large chorus that performs choral orchestral works each summer. 

Ben completed his Master of Arts in choral conducting at the University of Iowa and begins his Doctor of Musical Arts this fall at University of Washington.  For five years Ben was the founder and conductor of UW Men’s Choir at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is excited to have the opportunity to be one of the conductors of the UW Men’s Glee.