She entered the Juilliard School of Music in 1945 and studied composition with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti and piano with Rosalyn Tureck, graduating with a BS and then MS degree in 1951.
After completing her studies, she taught music appreciation at Nassau Community College from 1971 to 1972, and later began working as a composer full-time.
Deeply connected to those in her personal world, Richter composed works to honor various individuals important to her, such as Lament for her mother, Threnody for her father, and numerous others.
Richter co-founded the Long Island Composers Alliance in 1972 with Herbert Deutsch and served as its co-director, president and vice-president.
[5] Richter's musical style emphasizes chromaticism, a free use of dissonance, ostinatos, layering, rhythmic excitement, and dramatic pacing.