Professor Richard Blatti currently serves as Associate Director of Bands and as Head of the Ensembles and Conducting Area. In addition to his duties as music director and conductor of the OSU Symphonic Band, he supervises all aspects of the undergraduate conducting curricula for the School of Music and assists in the coordination the graduate conducting program and the administration of university ensembles and events. Ensembles under his direction have recorded for the Delos International, Boosey & Hawkes, and Mark Recording labels and have performed at national and regional levels for the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association and the Ohio Music Educators Association. Professor Blatti is the only person to have twice received The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award, in 1991 and in 2001.

As guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Blatti has been invited to 36 states, 5 provinces in Canada, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Australia, and China. Prior to his appointment at OSU, Professor Blatti was Director of Instrumental Music at Albion College in Michigan. During his tenure there he was twice selected the outstanding Faculty Member of the Year, and was awarded two grants in support of his research on rehearsal techniques and conducting pedagogy.

Blatti earned both the Bachelor of Music Education and the Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University and has done post-graduate work in conducting at Michigan State University. He is a member of ABA, CBDNA, MENC, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He also serves as a Director of the John P. Paynter Foundation. He is in constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer.