A professor of choral music education, Krystal Rickard holds a Bachelor's Degree from Bucknell University in Music Education with a minor in dance. She continued her study at Westminster Choir College where she graduated with a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting. She has studied conducting with William Payn, Andrew Megill, Heather Buchanan and Joseph Flummerfelt. While in graduate study, she was a member of the Westminster Choir. Her vocal performance experience includes soprano roles in major choral works such as Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Monteverdi's Gloria and Faure's Requiem.

At the University, Professor Rickard teaches choral methods and conducting and supervises vocal student teachers at the secondary level. She also conducts University Singers and co-directs Schola Cantorum. Before arriving at Delaware, Professor Rickard taught choral music in the New Jersey Public School System for five years. Under her direction her choirs won excellent awards at competitions, performed in Carnegie Hall and even traveled to Sydney, Australia to perform in the Sydney Opera House.