Rich Barchman

Rich Barchman – Percussion

I started percussion lessons in the 5^th grade summer band and played through high school and college mostly on timpani and mallet percussion instruments. While attending Iowa State University, the band performed in the Liberty Bowl. The game was ISU vs. Georgia Tech. I was musically Idle for several years and was invited to a Bettendorf, Iowa Community Band by an old friend in 1984. Our band was asked to play for the opening of a new venue, “The Mark of the Quad Cities”. The Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus elephants and Neil Diamond also performed for the opening. I also performed with the Quad City Wind Ensemble and was a sub fill in for the 5^th Army Band Reunion group.

In 2006, I moved to Tucson, AZ and joined the Tucson Concert Band. Concerts were performed at the Reed Park during the summer and the rest of the year for community centers. Also, I played with the Arizona Symphonic Winds in Tucson. One of the bands I joined in 2009 is the John Philip Sousa Foundation National Community Band. They perform once a year in various cities throughout the U.S. I can brag that “I have played Vegas” NCB at UNLV counts. February 2018 the Tucson Concert Band had the privilege of playing with the US Navy Band Southwest at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA and on deck of the USS Midway.

April 2018, I retired from the U of A and moved to Sun City West. To continue my playing, I joined the West Valley Wind Ensemble, Arizona Winds, and Sun City Concert Band. I have also played as a sub in several other organizations. During my retirement, I was able to keep busy by making a complete set of concert chimes from scratch. It is used in various bands that I play in. I also spend free time repairing and fabricating percussion instruments and equipment.