He is a double bass player and teacher born in Michigan who studied at the Western Michigan University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree in 1977. While there he was awarded a scholarship for playing the bass and paid a small stipend to perform with the Bronco Marching Band. He took further studies at the University of Michigan and graduated with his Master of Music degree in Stringed Instruments.
He was a musician with the Grand Rapids and South Bend Symphony Orchestra before joining the Florida Orchestra. This was prior to becoming a member of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra where he held the position of Assistant Principal Bass until his retirement in 2023 at the end of his 40th season.
Other orchestras he has performed with include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony as a substitute bassist between 1998 and 2001, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Kansas City Symphony. He has also performed with the ensemble Mannheim Steamroller.
As a chamber musician he has performed in many recitals and been a regular participant at the Grand Teton Music Festival.
As a jazz musician he has been a regular performer with his own jazz quartet at various clubs, private events and concerts.
In the studio he has performed on recordings that include Christmas and Christmas Celebration by Mannheim Steamroller and Classical Gas by Mason Williams and Mannheim Steamroller.
In the field of musical education he was he first conductor of the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra and for four years was the orchestra director for St. Joseph Public Schools (Michigan)from 1977 to 1981. He was a string specialist with Omaha Public Schools for seven years and went on to become a faculty member at the University of Nebraska and Dana College.
Mannheim Steamroller recordings
Carol of the Birds(Traditional Catlonian)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Coventry Carol (Traditional English/Robert Croo/Thomas Mawdyke)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Deck the Halls (Welsh Traditional)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (Traditional/Emile Blemont/Marc-Antoine Charpentier/Louis-Denis Seguin)(English Translation: Edward Cuthbert Nunn)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional/Anonymous)
American Gramaphone Records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Good King Wenceslas (John Mason Neale)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
I Saw Three Ships (Traditional/Anonymous)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Wassail (Anonymous Middle Ages English/Ralph Vaughan Williams)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
We Three Kings (Rev. John Henry Hopkins Jr.)
American Gramaphone records AG 1984 (CD: Christmas)
Sources:
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/000313139304300432
- https://wmualumni.org/stories/alumni-news/alumnus-bill-ritchie-hasnt-missed-a-beat
- https://www.omahamusic.com/musicians/band-act-detail/bill-ritchie-quartet
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-ritchie-mn0002290548
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1383994-Bill-Ritchie