Rich received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Temple University’s College of Music while studying with Hal Janks of the Metropolitan Opera. He also holds a Master’s Degree from the Julliard School for Performing Arts, where he was a scholarship student studying with Don Harwood of the New York Philharmonic.

Additional instructors include Charles Vernon of the Chicago Symphony, Vincent Panzarella of the New York Philharmonic (2nd Trumpet) and M Dee Stewart of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Indiana University.

While attending The Juilliard School Rich founded the Eroica Brass, a brass quintet. The group went on to win an Artist International Award and performed a debut recital at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. At their debut, the New York Times heralded the quintet as “a spirited, virtuosic group".

The group commissioned, recorded and premiered over 10 works, performing in concerts around the tri-state area and east coast while maintaining a residency at St Ignatius Episcopal Church in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Orchestrally, Rich has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Grand Opera, American Ballet Theater Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Colorado Philharmonic and Orquestra Sinfonica del Estado de México. Under the direction of many of the world's renowned conductors, Rich has worked with Ricardo Muti, Leonard Bernstein, Maxim Shostakovich, James Levine, Hugh Wolf, Gerard Schwartz, Gunther Schuller, Enrique Batiz, Jorge Mester and Joanne Falletta.

In addition Richard has performed in many of the world’s famous concert halls, including Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Metropolitan Opera House; Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Mann Music Center and Philadelphia Academy of Music.

On Broadway, Rich has performed in the orchestra pits including Les Misérables, Ms. Saigon, City of Angels, Meet Me in St Louis, The Lion King and The Secret Garden. In addition, Richard has also participated in both the Christmas Show and the Easter Show at the Radio City Music Hall.

Rich has recorded both jingles and film soundtracks in NYC studios. His commercial recording credits include Planters Peanuts, Pepsi Cola, and Army ROTC. Some of his film credits include recording the soundtrack for Cop Land, Mercury Rising and he can be seen performing on-screen in the feature film Big.

On the international stage, Rich toured the world several times over with Ray Charles as a member of his Orchestra. In fact, he was the last bass trombonist to ever perform with Mr. Charles. Alongside the legendary jazz singer, Rich has toured throughout Europe, Japan, Canada and the United States. In addition to Ray Charles’s Big Band, he has also performed with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, formerly the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra.

As a side man, Rich has played with many star attractions such as Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Billy Preston, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Peter Frampton. In addition, he has performed in many jazz festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festivals.

As an educator, Rich taught lessons for all levels (from beginners to graduate students) at his Lincoln Center area-studio in Manhattan, and taught in several private and public schools throughout the tri-state area. His students have gone on to play in the New York State School Music Association,(NYSSMA), been accepted into the music departments of major universities, and to perform professionally.

Rich has performed many master classes at the College Level: Fairleigh Dickinson University School of the Arts; Temple University College of Music and Ithaca College School of Music to name a few. Currently Rich teaches at Cornell University Department of Music.

One of Rich’s passions is staying in shape by playing ice hockey. He has combined two of his loves by performing national anthems with his trombone on skates at ice hockey tournaments in seven different countries; the United States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Rich was selected as the starting goaltender for the Juilliard Penguins during his college days. Every year, the team played in a tournament against the Manhattan School of Music and New England Conservatory. A good time was had by all the musicians.