7th Grade Band Director
Richard Erne

Richard Erne is in his eighteenth year of teaching, fourteen of which have been at Reeths-Puffer Schools. Prior to his current position as a part of the Reeths-Puffer instrumental music staff, Mr. Erne taught at Battle Creek Pennfield Schools, as well as Grand Haven Area Public Schools where he served as Chairman of the Music Department and taught band and orchestra. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and his Masters in Conducting degree at Michigan State University. He has played trumpet in the Blue Lake Festival Band and tenor horn in the Brass Band of Battle Creek. Mr. Erne has held many summer administrative and conducting positions at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp since 1987, most recently serving as Program Coordinator in 2005. Mr. Erne has been active in MSBOA, serving as District President, Music Education Committee member, Treasurer, and Vice President for Band & Orchestra. Most recently he is the founder and Co-Chair of the District 7 Honors String Orchestra and Band. He has served as the West Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra Director, District 3 Honors Band Director, Guest Clinician at Greenville's Winter Festival and has guest conducted the United States Coast Guard Band.