From Carnegie Hall and Broadway orchestra pits to concert halls and jazz festivals around the world, Rich Ford has built a wide-ranging life in music.
Featured
Watch Rich perform the Intrada from Vincent Persichetti’s Serenade No. 12 for Solo Tuba
A career across stages and styles
Rich’s work has moved between classical music, theatre, jazz, recording, international touring, and education.
Orchestras
Performances with opera, ballet, symphonic, and concert orchestras in New York and beyond.
Broadway
More than a dozen Broadway productions, along with commercial recording sessions and film soundtrack work.
Touring
International touring with Ray Charles and performances throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Japan, and Russia.
Teaching
Teaching students from beginner through graduate level in private studios, schools, masterclasses, and at Cornell University.
On the road with Ray Charles
Rich toured internationally as a member of Ray Charles’s orchestra, performing throughout Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
Archival material from Rich’s collection includes the 2001 Ingolstädter Jazztage and the 2003 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
Teaching
Passing the work forward
Rich has taught musicians at every level, from beginners to graduate students. His teaching experience includes private lessons, school programs, collegiate masterclasses, and university instruction.
Rich currently teaches low brass through Cornell University's Department of Music.
offstage
Trombone on thin ice
A lifelong hockey player and former starting goaltender for the Juilliard Penguins, Rich has performed national anthems on trombone while skating at hockey tournaments in seven countries.
Canadian and the American National Anthems performed at the Benefit Hockey game at Lynah Rink at Cornell University.
