Rich Ardizzone

Richard Ardizzone graduated from Boston University College of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Trombone Performance.  He holds a Masters of Education in Early Childhood from Tufts University.  Before transferring to BU, Rich attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music as a Music Education major and George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville as a Special Education major.  Rich and his family moved to Worcester in 1977, when he became Executive Director of Rainbow Child Development Center, a position he held for 16½ years.  Prior to moving to Worcester, Rich was a day care teacher and later the Preschool Co-ordinator for Cambridge/ Somerville Catholic Charities Day Care Program.  Ever an advocate for children, Rich served for many years as an active member of the Massachusetts Associated Day Care Administrators and the Worcester Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force.

Rich is currently Treasurer of Crocodile River Music’s Board of Directors, serving on their Leadership and Finance Committees.  He has previously served on the Board of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, the Grants Advisory Committee of the Worcester Arts Council, and is a Corporator of Music Worcester.

While attending BU and Tufts, Rich worked nights and weekends in Boston, playing with a variety of jazz, Salsa and Latin bands, including the Paul Fontaine/Jimmy Mosher Big Band and the Brass Menagerie. He was also a member of Conjunto Azul, a Latin Jazz group that played as the house band at the legendary Paul’s Mall.  After moving to Worcester he became a member of the Rich Falco Quartet and the Sonic Explorers.  Rich left his position at Rainbow in 1994 to become Associate Director of the Joy of Music Program, where he was already volunteering and teaching trombone.