Dr. Gordon Ring is Professor of Music Emeritus from Longwood University, where he taught composition, music theory, and conducting, developed the music technology program, and conducted the Wind Symphony for 30 years. In the 2015-2016 school year he was named the university’s first Simpson Distinguished Professor. He also previously taught at Culver-Stockton College and the University of North Texas.

 

A native of Missouri, he attended public schools in that state and received his Bachelor's degrees in Music and Music Education from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, where he studied composition with Donald Bohlen and Walter Halen. He received his master's and doctoral degrees, both in composition, from the University of North Texas. While at North Texas, he studied composition with Martin Mailman, electronic and computer music with Larry Austin, conducting with Robert Winslow and jazz arranging with Paris Rutherford.

 

Several of his works for various media have been prize winners in national and international composition contests, such as the National Band Association, National Opera Association, International Horn Society, National Orchestral Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Christ Church (New York), Pro Arte Chorale and others. He has received the ASCAP MusicPlu$ Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers each year since 1991. In 1997 he received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for “significant and lasting contributions to the cause of music in America.” His chamber opera, Highway 77, was a finalist in the National Opera Association Chamber Opera Composition Competition, and it was premiered in November, 2003, at the University of Central Missouri, at which time he was named the Distinguished Music Alumnus from that university. It was also performed at Longwood University in June, 2004. In 2019 his orchestral work Variations on a Motive of Beethoven was named the winner of the Northern Neck Orchestra Composition Competition and was premiered by the ensemble.

  

As a conductor he is active as a clinician and adjudicator of honor bands and festivals in the Midwest, East Coast and Canada. He has also served as organist at Farmville United Methodist Church since 1989.