Rich Guillen

My years of relevant experience and insistence on excellence and timeliness ensure that my clients receive exceptional quality and service. Whatever the need (e.g., musical arrangements with a quick turn-around; in-depth projects requiring time-intensive work; program consultation; adjudication services, etc.), I’m available to help directors and their students succeed!

Originally from Kearny, NJ, I‘ve been a music educator and band director for 33 years. From 1989 to 1997, I served as Director of Bands at Central Regional High School in Bayville, NJ. Since then, I’ve taught at Arlington High School in the Arlington Central School District in Dutchess County, NY. My current responsibilities include serving as the Music Department Coordinator and Director of Bands. In 2014, I was named one of Band and Orchestra Magazine's "50 Directors Who Make a Difference."

Concert, marching, and jazz ensembles under my direction consistently receive awards and accolades. While at Central Regional High School, the marching band won two Northeast Region Championships, and the jazz ensemble was named a state finalist. While director of the Arlington Admiral Marching Band (1997 to 2005), the band was named state and regional champions several times, as well as being named a BOA Grand National Semi-Finalist.

Additionally, the Arlington Jazz Machine won the Berklee Jazz Festival four times and placed in the top three at the festival every year from 2007 to 2017. In 2019, the Jazz Machine took first place at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival held in Maryland. The group also took second place in 2018 and 2020 and was invited to perform at the Jazz Educators National (JEN) Conference in New Orleans, LA, in January 2020. Under my direction, the Arlington High School Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall twice, performing side-by-side with the West Point Band, and was the featured high school band at the Montclair State University Spring Wind Band program.

In addition to my duties at Arlington High School, I’m also a freelance arranger, composer, and program consultant for many competitive marching bands and drum corps, and have been invited to work with numerous high school bands and musical organizations as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor across the United States. Since 1991, my marching band and drum corps arrangements have been included in many state and regional championship programs.

I was a performing member of the DCI World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the DCA World Champion Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps. I also served as program coordinator, brass arranger caption-head for the Sunrisers from 1994 to 1999 and in 2007, when the corps won the DCA A-Class World Championship.

Additionally, I am an active marching band and drum corps adjudicator. After serving as a judge in DCA for eight years, I was appointed Brass Caption Judging Supervisor in 2009 and have held that position ever since. I’ve judged for the Cavalcade of Bands; U.S. Bands; Maryland Marching Band Association; ISSMA; KMEA; and the NYSFBC.

Currently residing in LaGrange, NY, with my wife, our four daughters, and our cat and dog, I feel truly blessed!