Other Groups or Positions: Principal Saxophone, W. D. Packard Concert Band
Member, Warren Civic Chorus
Member, North-Mar Church Choir
Musical Arranger, Warren G. Harding High School Marching Band
A life-long resident of Warren, Rick was inspired to enter a career in music by his band director at Harding High School, Robert E. Fleming. He attended Kent State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree and followed up with a Master of Music degree from Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music. Rick taught instrumental music at all levels in the Warren City Schools and served as assistant and head band director at Harding High School and Warren Western Reserve Middle School, retiring in 2003 after 35 years of service.
Throughout his career, Rick has maintained an active role in the community as an instrumentalist, musical arranger, and conductor. His arrangements and commissioned works have been performed by The Top Notes, the W. D. Packard Concert Band, The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, the Youngstown State University Wind Ensemble, and the Warren G. Harding Marching Band, as well as by numerous high school and college bands. He has performed nearly 30 years with the W. D. Packard Concert Band as a clarinetist, bass clarinetist and, currently, principal saxophonist. Rick has been a member of The Top Notes since the late 1970s. His vocal music activities include participation in the Warren Civic Chorus and the North-Mar Church Choir, where he has also served as an instrumentalist and guest conductor.
Rick is currently employed as a candle maker with the Sydney Candle Company in Cortland. His wife Cynthia works as a medical assistant for a local physician and also serves as Executive Director of the Ohio Dermatological Association. Their son Bryan and daughter Lauren, both former band students of their father, reside in Dayton and Cleveland respectively.
