Rick discovered his dual passion for music and the German language during his school years. He majored in both subjects at the University of Oregon, graduated in 1977, moved to Germany soon afterwards, and made it his home.

A music journalist since 1983, Rick is the host and producer of the DW Festival Concerts, broadcast on a number of radio stations in the United States - and as Concert Hour, in English-speaking countries worldwide.

A regular visitor to Germany's major music festivals, particularly the Beethovenfest in Bonn and the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Rick is addicted to the music of Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, Brahms, Bruckner and just about everything else from Gregorian chant to Glass, Joplin and Jarreau, Schütz, Schönberg and Sinatra. In other words, to whatever's playing, if it's good. And if it is, he likes to share it. 

Inundated by so much great music in the office, the studio and Germany's concert halls, Rick finds the sound of silence in his Eifel Mountain retreat in the West of Germany all the more satisfying.

There, he maintains a vegetable garden that is much too big and cooks for his two cats - noting with satisfaction that they too seem to enjoy the music of Wagner.