Stephen Rickett, age 55, died on July 6th, 2010 at his home in Savannah Georgia. He was the son of former Greenville Symphony Conductor Peter Rickett who held this position for 34 years. He attended Wade Hampton High School and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts where he majored in double bass. He continued his education at the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers included his father who was also a bass player, Lynn Peters, Lawrence Angel and Thomas Bernand. He was a part of the Greenville Symphony and even played a bass duet with his father and the orchestra before leaving to attend NCSA.
He was a member of the former Savannah Symphony as well as their Stage Manager for twenty five years. He played with almost all the symphonies in the area including the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Atlanta Ballet, Akron and Canton Symphonies as principal. He also performed regularly with the Charleston, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Macon and of course Greenville. He participated in most of the musical activities in Savannah for many years. He was also active with the Hilton Head Symphony.
He was part of the Brevard Music Camp and participated for 14 years at the Spoleto Italy Festival, and the Crested Butte Music Festival and was a faculty member of the Eastern Music Festival.
He was an ardent golfer and loved boating and fishing. He is survived by his parents Peter and Betsie Rickett of Phoenix, AZ; his siblings Christine Alley of Penobscot, ME, Debbie Horvay of Louisville, KY and David Rickett of Los Angeles, CA; his nephews Kevin and Greg Horvay of Louisville and New York as well as one great niece.
A Memorial Service will be at the Unitarian Church of Savannah, 311 E. Harris St. Savannah, GA, Saturday, July 17th, 2010 at 11AM. 912-234-0980
No flowers, memorials to the The Nature Conservancy. More information at StephenRickett.com.
