Rick Orpen
Music
Rick Orpen is a member of the Music Faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College where he teaches courses in music theory, composition, percussion, jazz improvisation and guitar. He earned his B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. in Music from the University of Minnesota. In addition to his work with the Gustavus Jazz Quartet, Dr. Orpen is an active performer on guitar, bass guitar and percussion, and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician.
Dr. Orpen has published articles in professional music journals and is an accomplished composer and arranger. His Marimba Duos are published by Keyboard Percussion Publications and his CD, Live from the Chestnut Tree Cafe'©, features his jazz compositions. His performance credits include the Ordway Music Theater, Plymouth Music Series, Walker Art Center, Minikahda Club, Minnesota Club, Minnesuing, and Owatonna Arts Center, as well as numerous Gustavus events including Nobel Concert and A Royal Affair. Dr. Orpen is a former president of the Minnesota Music Theory Consortium and Vice-president of the Minnesota College and University Council for Music.
Contact Information
Music
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue
Saint Peter, MN 56082
Phone: 507-933-7348
E-mail: orpen@gustavus.edu
Courses Taught
- Guitar Class
- Improvisation
- Music Theory I
- Music Theory II
- Music Theory III
- Music Theory IV
- Percussion Ensemble
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Carolyn Wanamaker ’04
I was born and raised in Appleton, WI. After graduating from high school, I attended Gustavus Adolphus College and kept busy playing viola in the orchestra, traveling over J-terms, and doing research…