Hilton Head Symphony dedicates piece in memory of Steve Rickett

Posted by Peter Berquist:

On October 4, 2010 the Hilton Head Symphony played the opening concert of its 2010-11 season. Steve had been a long time member of the bass section. The last piece on the program was the Brahms Second Piano Concerto, and it was dedicated in Steve’s memory. I was asked to say a few words, and here is what I had prepared:

Dedication to Steve Rickett

October 4, 2010

The music community in this region suffered a great loss with the passing this summer of our friend and colleague Steve Rickett. Steve was a long time member of this orchestra’s bass section, and was a member of the Savannah Symphony for 25 years. At one time or another he played with practically every orchestra in the Southeast.

Brahms was a favorite composer of Steve’s, and he liked to point out that Brahms’ father was a bass player, which explains why the bass parts are so interesting and fun to play. Steve’s father was also a bass player and conductor of the Greenville, SC Symphony. So Steve grew up with this music and he dedicated his life to it.

Therefore it is fitting that we dedicate the Brahms Second Piano Concerto in memory of our friend Steve.

I also mentioned that one of Steve’s favorite sayings was “composer, conductor, bass section”.

1983 Spoleto Festival Orchestra

This is a good action shot of Steve (2nd from left in bass section) playing with the 1983 Spoleto Festival Orchestra and chorus, Joseph Flummerfelt conducting.

Greenville Symphony 1986

This is a photo of my brother Steve guesting for the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth in 1986.  That’s my father conducting.   I recently dug this photo out as part of a photo series I did for my late father’s site, PeterRickett.com.  By the way, today I updated Steve’s site so that it is now entirely a WordPress site.