Richard C. Lopez

Born in Hollywood, CA, of English and Honduran parentage, he spent his early years traveling between England, Central America and the United States. His family eventually settled in Columbus, OH where he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at The Ohio State University, studying piano with Richard Tetley-Kardos. He moved to New York City, studying with Edith Oppens and Karl Ulrich Schnabel and teaching at two of Manhattan's Upper West Side music schools, the Bloomingdale House of Music and the Metropolitan Music School. He returned to Columbus to complete his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree, again at OSU, studying with internationally-known pianist Earl Wild. On his return, he established himself as a jazz and classical pianist and teacher in the Central Ohio area, and was a popular performer all over Columbus, especially at the Short North restaurant Rigsby's. He took a sabbatical year in 2004 to live in Los Angeles where he performed at the Bel-Air Country Club and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

He retired in May 2020 from Otterbein and Denison Universities where he had served as a long-time member of the piano faculties. Richard also taught at the University of Akron, The Ohio State University and Capital University. He was a kind, yet demanding teacher, universally loved by his students and fellow faculty members. He always sought to deepen his understanding and interpretation of music and he remained passionate about learning and teaching until the end of his life.

Richard was a superb performer, remarkable for his sensitivity and versatility. He presented numerous solo recitals of classical repertoire throughout his career. He also appeared as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Columbus Jazz Orchestra, the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, and the Westerville Symphony among others. His classical playing was characterized by his warm musicianship and exquisite variety of touch.

An imaginative and exciting jazz performer, Richard was Musical Director of the popular "Jazz Masters Series" at the Columbus Museum of Art, where he produced monthly concerts which featured Columbus's finest jazz players in theme-based and jazz all-star showcase concerts. Richard produced two CD's: "The Richard Lopez Trio: Live at Rigsby's", and "Too Far North", featuring his original compositions for jazz quartet. He appeared regularly on music festivals, including the Columbus Arts Festival, the Festival Latino, and the Columbus Jazz and Ribfest. He also composed soundtracks for a variety of commercial, educational, corporate and children's video projects. His original composition, "Blues and Variations" for piano, was commissioned for Capital University's "Grand Piano Series," where it received its premiere. He composed and performed an original score for a major exhibition at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center "The Sight of Music", which explored the intersection and interaction of the aural and visual arts. He was an appropriate choice for this project, since those who were acquainted with him outside of the music community knew him as a talented visual artist who painted locally, in Italy, and in favorite vacation spots Taos, NM and Sanibel, FL. His art is represented on his website: http://www.richardlopezart.com . He was an outdoor enthusiast who cycled and hiked thousands of miles in his lifetime, especially during summers in Taos NM. He was predeceased by his dear mother, Leila Lopez, and leaves behind his partner of 45 years Steve Dornbusch, his father Virgilio Lopez, his sisters Jane Lopez, Chris Lopez and Ruth Lopez Brown (Bryan), nephews Chris Holbrook (Alex) and Drew Cook (Kana), and niece Sarah Holbrook. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, students, fellow musicians, and all those who heard him play, but his legacy will live on in their hearts and minds. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society or an arts organization of their choice.