Richard Tijerino is an Emmy nominated musician, clinician, and advocate for neurodiversity. As a local Miami resident his alma maters include Olympia Heights Elementary, South Miami Middle Community School Center for the Arts, Coral Reef Senior High, and the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. 

Richard has worked with numerous conductors such as Gerard Schwarz, Mei Ann Chen, Javier Mendoza, Dean Whiteside, Yun Cao, Harris Han Andersen, Alberto Bade, Carlitos Lopez. Additionally, he has collaborated with many musicians such as Etienne Charles, Shelton Berg, Nicole Emelie, Sam Velez, Alexys Dowling, Alexander Zenoz, Winston Thayer, and Jennifer Phan. 

As a former member of the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Richard has performed in landmark works such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a PBS Special and Emmy nominated work, Shostakovich 10th Symphony, all of Brahms Symphonies, Beethoven Five and Seventh Symphony, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Dvorak Ninth Symphony, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Firebird.

As an educator, Richard has received superior ratings at both distinct and state levels in conducting, teaching, coaching, and supporting students with diverse personalities and abilities. In January 2025, he was a clinician at the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) presenting Incorporating Universal Design for Learning in Music Lesson Plans for students with neurodiversity and disabilities. 

Richard has served as a Teaching Artist at the Community Arts Program (CAP), where he provides violin instruction and music theory education to students with diverse musical abilities and neurodiversity. Additionally, he is a teacher at MP Miami Music School. He has volunteered in local nonprofit organizations such as Miami Jam Sessions, a music therapy socialization and mentoring program for neurodivergent teens and young adults, Musicall, a music education and enrichment program, and Breakthrough Miami, an academic enrichment program for minority groups.

His comprehensive experience as a performer, educator, and advocate for inclusive education underscores his dedication to instilling musical growth in all his students.