Ralph E. Pearce was born the son of Salvation army Officer parents in Glasgow, Scotland. He received his earliest musical education in the Salvation Army and was featured at an early age as first a vocalist and then as a Trombonist. He studied Music at the University of Glasgow and Composition at the University of Wales
Whilst in Wales he directed the Risca Songster Brigade (choir) for seventeen years. This group earned a national reputation for fine singing. He was also responsible for the Salvation Army Corps Band and other numerous Divisional musical groups. Ralph was also responsible for the Music faculty at a Welsh high school which has a high reputation for producing superior brass players.
Following a move to Arizona in May of 1990, Ralph became Divisional Director of Music for the Salvation Army’s Southwest Division. (The Southwest Division encompasses El Paso, Texas, all of Arizona and New Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada). Since that time he has become responsible for a wide diversity of musical expression in the Division. Ralph has over 60 compositions published both in and out of the Salvation Army, a number of which are now recorded. The Divisional Youth Band, under Ralph’s tutelage and direction has toured England and Wales as well as the New York City metropolitan area.
Outside of his Salvation Army activities, he is the Musical Director of the Salt River Brass which has, under his direction, become one of the premier Brass Bands in the U.S.A.
A guest Clinician on Brass Bands at the Association of American Concert Bands convention, Ralph is also a Clinician for the Boosey and Hawkes Musical Instrument Company, specializing in Brass Band Conducting.