Musicians

Rich Ridenour

It is widely acknowledged that Rich Ridenour presents one of the greatest piano pops shows today. His concerts of great piano classics encompass the masterworks as well as traditional American styles including ragtime, jazz and rock n’ roll. Recent symphony engagements include Detroit, Portland (ME), Midland-Odessa, South Bend, Elgin, Rockford, Richmond, Florida, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Tacoma and of course, hometown Grand Rapids! Rich premieres as a pops conductor with the Elgin Symphony in January 2005.

Rich has held numerous teaching positions including Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Calvin College and Western Michigan University. Because of his interest in music outreach and the development of musically aspiring youth, Rich co-founded the Grand Rapids Musicians' League and created the popular Keller Cooler Music Series, held at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. Recently, Rich spent two years developing educational programs as Education Director for the Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rich received a Bachelor's degree in music from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music. His teachers include Louis Nagel, Josef Raieff, William Bolcom, Eugene Bossart and Ruth Hemmes. In his career, Rich has accompanied stars Carol Lawrence, Robert Guillaume, Smokey Robinson, Larry Gatlin, Martin Short, Mercedes Ellington and “B” for Bob from Sesame Street.

Rich lives in Portage, MI with his wife Stacy, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony, and their two boys, Brandon and Ross.

For information on Rich’s concert schedule, recordings, or email, please visit his website at www.geocities.com/richridenour.

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