Dr. Richard Slocum

Dr. Richard Slocum served as a longtime fine arts chair, music teacher, and orchestra conductor at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School for over forty years.
Over the years, Slocum inspired scores of students to appreciate and make music. He awed audiences through his orchestral direction during school musicals, such as a 2017 production of “Titanic,” which prompted Patrick McMahon, a reviewer for DC Metro Theater Arts, to write, “Even more impressive was the orchestra pit. Made up of 16 musicians, the lush orchestrations really shined through, thanks to the musical direction of Dr. Richard Slocum.” Other popular productions he contributed to at Good Counsel include “Les Misérables” and “Into the Woods.”

A highlight in GC’s history was the opening of the Ellen C. Mervin Theatre, a part of the school’s Performing Arts Center, in 2019. Slocum directed orchestra students in the facility’s first show, a production of “Damn Yankees,” which received glowing reviews. “Whether the jazz ensemble or the orchestra, everyone loves watching Rich conduct,” says GC President Paul Barker. “He always conveys the love of the music, encouragement of the players, and, of course, a great sense of humor and showmanship.”

In 2014, Tim Welsh ’84 was named the Dr. Richard Slocum Music Scholarship in honor of his former teacher. “Mr. Slocum helped me understand that music is a universal language that brings people together,” Welsh says. “Because I learned this from him, I have used music to help unite my family and my community.” The school’s orchestra pit was named for Slocum and his wife, Rosemary, in 2016 for their many years of service to GC’s music and performing arts programs.