Mr. Hickam's Homepage

Ensemble Conductor

Richard Hickam is orchestra and band director at Collegedale Academy and A.W. Spalding Elementary School in Collegedale, Tenessee, where he has taught since 2000. A native of San Diego, California, Hickam graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in music education. He recently completed an M.Mus. in music education at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, graduating as president of the class.

During his last two years at Southern Adventist University, Hickam served as the assistant conductor of the university orchestra under Orlo Gilbert. He has recently been named conductor of the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra and has already lead them through two tremendous performances.

CA Music Headlines

CA Orchestra performs at Disney, Forest Lake Academy

By Jordan McKee and Sarah Ruf

February 15 was a cold, crisp one. Groggy students piled all of their homework, pillows, and entertainment devices onto the waiting bus. Adults groaned at the thought of a long bus ride with hyper “kids.” Basses, cellos, violas, and violins were neatly tucked away.

The Collegedale Academy Orchestra was geared up for a warm, Disney-filled orchestra tour!

After preparing with a music workshop the week before, the orchestra was ready to perform with the Forest Lake Academy Orchestra at the Forest Lake Church and schools. The musicians were heartily welcomed at all three of their performance stops and gained the experience of playing under a different conductor.

The CA orchestra got to know the FLA musicians a little better with a visit to DeLeon Springs. Manatees were sighted feeding at the park that also contained “The Old Pancake House.”

But warm? No. If there was one word to describe the tour, it would be “cold.” Girl’s dresses blew everywhere, and the entire ensemble wore jackets and sweaters. Even though the weather was not typical Florida weather, we still spent time outdoors. A classic football game was played at Cocoa Beach (in which Team Hickam smashed Team Torsney) while gulls frantically scavenged for food.

Finally, we were ready for our Disney debut! Though it was freezing and windy, we still managed to make it through Bach’s Brandenburg, Fiddler’s Hoedown, The Prayer, and Farandole without major mistakes. “Our Disney performance was windy and exhilarating,” noted Mr. Hickam. “We had a really good audience.” Finally, after all our hard work and a grand total of six performances behind us, we could enjoy the magic of Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

The tour may not have been 75 degrees and sunny, but nevertheless, we still had a great time. Throughout the whole tour, it seemed like our ultimate goal was to get to Disney World. But was this really the goal of the tour? We all grew as musicians and as people. Everyone became closer to each other, and closer to God. And not even the magic of Disney can do that!