Critics hail pianist Rich Ridenour as amazingly versatile, masterfully musical and wickedly funny. Mr. Ridenour established his career performing his own musical arrangements of classical masterworks and today’s popular piano favorites. With hundreds of engagements to his credit, Mr. Ridenour has recently performed with the orchestras of Indianapolis, Atlanta, Kansas City, Topeka, Harrisburg, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Charleston, West Virginia, Elgin, Owensboro, Mazatlan, Mexico and the Bravissimo Festival Orchestra of Guatemala City. Each season Mr. Ridenour serves as pops director for the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra.

A lifelong passion has been music education. As Education Director for the International Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mr. Ridenour conceived and developed Camp Gilmore at Sherman Lake YMCA, Keys Fest and educational piano labs in the public schools and juvenile center (working with day treatment and lock up youth). Mr. Ridenour taught in all these programs that today are a part of the Festival’s year long programs offered to young musicians to explore and grow in music. Mr. Ridenour also created two student shows for the Gilmore Festival: Invention Mania and the Piano Student of Mrs. McCalfrey.

Many of Mr. Ridenour’s students have succeeded in musical careers while others have instilled a lifelong pleasure in music. Working with Education for the Arts in Kalamazoo, Mr. Ridenour developed Music for Life giving high school musicians an after school opportunity to explore disciplines in all styles of music. This included work in music theory, history, composition, performance, computer music arranging programs and video capture/editing. Mr. Ridenour has also instructed piano at Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Calvin College and Western Michigan University.

In 2011 Mr. Ridenour co-introduced City Keys to the city of Jacksonville, Florida. Six upright pianos painted by area professional artists brought energy to the downtown sidewalks for everyone to play and explore. In 2014, Mr. Ridenour worked as an advisor with the Sarasota Arts Alliance where currently 11 painted pianos grace the community for people to explore.

Since 2013, Sarasota has been home for Rich and his wife Stacy, who serves as development director for the Sarasota Opera. Rich and Stacy have two children. Brandon is a professional trumpet player and Ross is a First Officer serving United Airlines.

Mr. Ridenour is an international Steinway Artist. Contact richridenour@comcast.net