Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Richard Yeager received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University and his Master of Music degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He served with the 81st U.S. Army Band, and Yeager has taught at Youngstown State University, Westminster Colleges as well as Eastern Kentucky University before coming to Missouri Western.

Mr. Yeager's performance experience includes  location and road-work with Ralph Martieri, Ralph Flannagan, Buddy Morrow, Les and Larry Elgart, and Stan Kenton. Yeager has done back-up work for Jerry Vale, Maureen McGovern, Shari Lewis, Julie Andrews, Jim Nabors, Bobby Rydell, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Wilson Pickett. He has recording experience in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Nashville, Kansas City and St. Joseph. Yeager has appeared as a soloist on clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, and flute with various bands, jazz ensembles, and orchestras in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. 

Eric was born in Saint Joseph and has lived in St. Joseph all his life. He became the Music Pastor at Word of Life Church in the fall of 1991 and considers it an honor to lead the congregation in music that worships Jesus the King.

His favorite music is Jazz. Real jazz. He feels there’s a power in the spontaneous creative process that is so central to jazz. He feels that any style of music can be used to worship the King. So when he says jazz is his favorite music, he is not saying it supersedes traditional forms of worship in any way. When he plays jazz trumpet, he believes he is worshiping the greatest creative power in the universe that is now resident in me – he’s worshiping THE CREATOR.

For all lovers of music, come out and enjoy a great night! Sunday August 4 will feature a great mash-up of Jazz and Classical music, featuring performers from Northwest Missouri.

To open the night, our classical set will feature the talented team from First Presbyterian Church in St. Joe. 

We'll close out the evening with a cool set from the St. Joseph Jazz All-stars, a great sextet featuring Saxophonist Richard Yeager, Trumpeter Eric Stark, and several other gifted jazz musicians from Northwest Missouri.