Thaddeus Rich

Thaddeus Rich (b. Indianapolis, March 25, 1885 – d. Hartford, Connecticut, 1969) – Violinist and conductor. Indianapolis native Thaddeus Rich studied in Germany, graduating from the Leipzig Conservatory at age sixteen. He then furthered his violin studies with Joachim in Berlin. As a teenager, he was a member of both the Gewandaus Orchestra and Opera des Westens, serving as concertmaster with the latter group. After returning to the United States in 1905, Rich served as concertmaster with the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1906 to 1926. He also functioned as assistant conductor under Stokowski in the 1920s. Also in Philadelphia, he conducted the orchestra of the Curtis Institute and a W.P.A. orchestra. Lastly, He taught at Temple University in the 1930s and 1940s, serving as Dean at one time.