“Ronald Richards, an oboist and founding member of the Amherst (N.Y.) Symphony Orchestra, died Tuesday of complications from a fall,” reads an unsigned obituary in Friday’s (3/13) Buffalo News (New York). “Richards, of Amherst, was born in Buffalo in a music-loving home and discovered his passion for music, and the oboe, at an early age. At 15, he was a founding member of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra” and eventually performed with the Amherst Symphony for 69 years. “At age 16, Mr. Richards became an oboist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, one of the youngest musicians to ever play in that orchestra. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s in music from the University at Buffalo, where he taught oboe for more than 40 years. In the mid-1980s, Mr. Richards formed the Buried Treasures Ensemble, a chamber music group that performed works by composers whose works he discovered, edited and published. Mr. Richards played for more than 15 years at the Missouri Symphony Chamber Orchestra summer festival. He also played with orchestras in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, Ont., for many years…. Survivors include a daughter, Debbie Lahav; and two sons, Michael and Daniel.”
Posted March 17, 2015
