Richard P. Walters
1956 - 2024
About Rick Walters
Rick Walters attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he studied piano with Dr. Robert L. Larsen, voice with Douglas Duncan, and composition with Sven Lekberg, receiving a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. He received his Master of Music Degree at the University of Minnesota in Theory and Composition, studying composition with Dominick Argento, who became his lifelong mentor. Shortly after graduating, he moved to Milwaukee for a job as a keyboard editor at Hal Leonard Publishing. He ascended to the role of VP of Classical & Vocal Publications over his 39-year career there.
Rick’s many iconic projects include the Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology series, dozens of opera anthologies, the Schirmer Performance Editions series, a new edition of 28 Italian Songs & Arias of the 17th & 18th Centuries, and collections of music by Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, Stephen Sondheim, and even Mel Brooks. It is safe to say that there isn’t a vocal student in America from the last several decades who hasn’t sung from a book that Rick touched. In 2011, he pioneered the Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, which hosted tens of thousands of vocal students and launched several professional careers until it ended with Rick’s retirement in 2023.
Even after retiring, he continued to make a difference in the music community, particularly with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he served on the board and mentored budding composition students.
Our
Story
Music for Singers is a streamlined website featuring quality repertoire for singers of all ages, avoiding the noise of big sites offering thousands of books for every instrument. Our vocal collections have been created, compiled, edited, composed, and arranged by expert curator Rick Walters.
In honor of Rick's legendary contribution to preserving and presenting essential vocal repertoire for students and teachers, a portion of the proceeds from the sales from this site will go toward the Richard Walters Memorial Fund that will provide vocal scholarships for young artists. Music for Singers is the only e-commerce site that gives back to the artists who utilize this repertoire. The more you sing, the more we give.
Be a Part of the Message
Help spread the word to vocalists everywhere that Music for Singers gives back to music education by providing funds for scholarships through the Richard Walters Memorial Fund.
Send in a video of your performance of a song from one of our collections, and if we use it on one of our social media pages, Music for Singers will pay you $50. The more you sing, the more we give.