Richard Proulx was a native of Minnesota, where he received musical training at the MacPhail College of Music and the University of Minnesota. He studied organ with Arthur Jennings and Rupert Sircom, composition with Theodore Ganshaw and Gerald Bales, choral conducting with Robert Shaw, Roger Wagner, and at the Columbus Boychoir School of Princeton.

As a composer, Mr. Proulx has written over 250 works for piano, solo voice, chorus, organ, orchestra, TV commercials and documentary films. His 1978 chamber opera, "The Pilgrim", has enjoyed 22 productions throughout the United States, and his new opera "Beggars Christmas", was commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts and premiered in Buffalo, New York.His published music is available through Oxford University Press, GIA Publications, Paraclete Press and Augsburg Publishing House.

Richard Proulx served as editorial consultant for several recent hymnals: The Episcopal Hymnal 1982, The Methodist Hymnal, The Yale Hymnal for Colleges and Schools, Worship II and Worship III. He was a founding member of the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians and also served as a member of the Standing Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church for 12 years. Mr.Proulx has served both Episcopal and Roman Catholic parishes in Minnesota, Washington, and Chicago. Mr.Proulx recently received an honorary doctoral degree from General Theological Seminary in New York City.