Dick

Dick's Henze Horn

Dick began his musical "career" as a piano student in rural Michigan, along with each of his five siblings. He has fond memories of sitting three to a bench and playing six-handed piano at local social clubs. His family also sang as a group and he thought they were quite good until his older brother recently gave him a recording of one of their performances (copied from a wax record no less). What was he thinking!?!

Although he occasionally doodles on the piano, Dick took up trombone when he entered high school, playing through 4 years of undergraduate studies at Central Michigan University. His interest in natural history probably influenced the design on the bell of his Henze alphorn- a bird perched on a white pine branch. During his graduate studies, and for 22 years after, his mother stored the trombone because she "knew" he'd come around again. In the mid- 1990's Dick began playing with the Mason Orchestral Society (now Symphony), appearing with them for over 15 years. He's also played with several local community bands in the Lansing area. He currently performs with the Lansing Concert Band and has made two concert tours to China with Windiana.

His introduction to Ein Prosit came through his friendship with Tracy who invited him to "sub" for one performance. Since then he's rarely missed a rehearsal or performance. Tracy also influenced his decision to purchase an alphorn and join Alphorngruppe. Dick and his wife (whose photographs grace the websites of several performing groups) look for local musical instruments when they travel and Dick plans to learn to play each of them when he retires.