| Ric Smith
Ric was brought up in a small town in Northwest Ohio where he started his music studies at the age of 5 on the piano moving to the Viola at the age of 8.
Ric has played in many orchestras throughout the Midwest and South as section and/or principal Violist. He studied with world renowned Violist — Jerzy Kosmala at Louisiana State University — and has shared the stage with the likes of Itzak Perlman, Pinkus Zukerman, Mark O'Connor, and Natalie McMaster, to name a few.
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| Ric Smith playing "da fiddle" |
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Ric was fortunate enough to make his Carnegie Hall debut in 1986 with the Baton Rouge Symphony and then to returned in 1987 as a member of the Louisiana State Chamber Ensemble.
In 1997, Ric discovered Celtic music, and for the first time in his career, picked up a fiddle and became a founding member of the Celtic band, Knot Fibb'n.
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| Ric plays a blue Yamaha SV 200 |
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| In 2001, he joined the band, Homeland. Where, along with friends Scott McGillivray, Rob Koogler and Jeremy Washburn, they put a little Rock and Roll in our Reels. Homeland has just recorded their 4th CD, “We Never Got This Far Alone”. This venture leads Ric on the next part of his magical, musical journey. Where it takes him, only a wild wind knows!
In 2008 Ric joined Roger Drawdy and The Firestarters, further his immersion into the world of hard-driving celtic rock.
When he isn't performing around the world, Ric works as one of the skilled craftsman at The Loft Violin Shop making sure our instruments are set-up perfectly and perform to the highest standards. He also visits schools to make sure students and teachers get the best service and support possible.
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| Sid O'Masta |
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Sid Omasta …
grew up in western Massachusetts and received his college degree from Clark University. Sid has toured extensively as a musician and has been performing non-stop for almost 30 years. A versatile musician, on bass he is one of the best upright bass players you will hear anywhere. His background in old time ("The Timbre Wolves"), Irish ("Stark Raven") and jazz (various jazz orchestras and combos) give him a unique perspective and a fresh, innovative approach to bluegrass.
But, you will also be amazed when he performs on the violin (fiddle), mandolin or guitar also with great skill and dexterity. Not only that, as an accomplished sound engineer, he enjoys working sound and sound engineering (almost) as much as playing!
Sid can be heard performing locally (and on tour) with Stark Raven, Lone Raven, Death by Banjo and others.
Nicknamed “the Bass Doctor” at The Loft Violin Shop, he has been a Luthier with The Loft for over 20 years. Many customers marvel at the magic he can work on their bass or cello’s in repair and tonal “tweaking”.
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| Doug Richeson |
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Doug Richeson …
has and extensive and impressive musical biography that includes 3 Grammy Awards. When he isn’t working on Basses and Cellos at The Loft Violin Shop, Doug freelances nationally and internationally as a musician and a teacher of Classical, Jazz and Contemporary Music on his instruments, the String Bass and Electric Bass. He has recorded on several recordings, performing on electric and string bass. Performing in a variety of venues with many jazz greats such as: Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon, Monty Alexander, Count Basie Orchestra, Phil Collins Big Band, Quincy Jones, Gene Bertoncini, Billy Eckstein, Frank Vignola, Joe Williams, Jimmy Heath, Rosemary Clooney, Jack Jones, Sammy Nestico, Joe Lovano, Dan Wall, Conrad Herwig, Tom Harrell, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Columbus Jazz Orchestra and many more. Mr. Richeson was the Bass Instructor at Capital University, Conservatory of Music 1987-93. Summer of 1999 he was a guest clinician at the American School of Double Bass. He is currently teaching Bass at Denison University, School of Music and also at Ohio University, School of Music, Athens, Ohio.In May of 1993, Richeson joined the "Tony Bennett" organization. Touring three hundred days a year in the States and Internationally. Recording on three CD's, "Steppin Out", "M.T.V. Unplugged" and "Here’s to the Ladies". All were Grammy award winning recordings with Album of the year for "M.T.V. Unplugged". Douglas has also recorded on "The Ralph Sharon Trio Swings the Sammy Cahn Songbook" with guest artist Gerry Mulligan, "Portrait of Harold Arlen Songbook and "The Ralph Sharon Trio plays the Harry Warren Songbook." Douglas has also recorded for Movie and Television sound tracks and has performed several times at the White House for the President of the United States.After leaving Tony Bennett in July 1997, Douglas has continued to perform with great musicians. The summer of 1998, Doug was on tour with the "Phil Collins Big Band" with such guests as vocalist Oleta Adams, saxophonists Gerald Albright, James Carter and pianist George Duke. The twenty piece jazz big band toured the United States and Europe. A live recording was made and released on the Atlantic label, “A Hot Night in Paris”. Douglas performed on string bass and electric bass for that tour. Even with this very busy life style, he is also a very dedicated family and with a very supportive wife and two sons.
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| Chris Howes
Christian Howes has already made an indelible mark and is poised to be a path-finding figure on the contemporary violin. He’s won recognition and kudos from artists and critics alike. Says guitar pioneer Les Paul, with whom Christian has made numerous appearances: “There is nobody better than this guy.” The prominent artists Howes has performed and/or recorded with include Greg Osby, Randy Brecker, James Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Akua Dixon’s Quartette Indigo, Billy Hart, D.D. Jackson, David Murray, Steve Turre’s Sextet with Strings, Jane Monheit, Dr. John, Frank Vignola, and Lenny White, to name a few.
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A native of Columbus, Ohio, Christian Howes was classically trained beginning at age five. In fact, he got his first violin at The Loft Violin Shop. He subsequently performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at sixteen. After placing in national classical competitions while still in his teens, Howes set out to build upon a strong classical foundation and distinguish himself in jazz, the art of the improvisers. His star has been ascending ever since.
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| As a bandleader or a featured guest Howes has performed on such prestigious stages as the Newport, Toronto, Ottawa, and Tri-C jazz festivals. His club work has taken him to such world-renowned venues as Birdland, Iridium, the Knitting Factory, Blues Alley, and the Village Vanguard… and that’s just in the U.S. Christian’s tours have taken him throughout the Midwestern U.S., the Far East and across Europe, including a part-time residence in Spain, where he has collaborated with some of that country’s finest musicians. In 2002 Howes was featured in performance in the Spanish film Impulsos.
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An extremely versatile and flexible artist, this prolific violinist/composer maintains five distinct working ensembles, including the Christian Howes Group (quintet or quartet), the Hot Swing Group, the European Acoustic Trio, the Special Electric Violin Project, and Duo Americana. Howes is also available to provide clinics and master classes for all ages.
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Listen to Chris' "Green Dolphin Street" |
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| Tyler Moore |
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Tyler Moore
Tyler has been doing music, in one way or another, all his life. "I took my grandfathers lead, and violin, as a kid and have been hooked ever since." Though known for it's classical roots, he's never had the desire to take the violin that route. His dad was always playing jazz and mom was always listening to oldies, so the bug to go a different direction was there from the start. Tyler was always the kid goofing off playing weird stuff in orchestra (just ask Doug Wright, his teacher at Worthington), and it wasn't at all uncommon to find him in the music building at Ohio University playing "stump the violinist" with 80's & 90's tunes, TV & movie theme songs, and show tunes.
Since attending Ohio University, where he got a degree in Violin Performance, Tyler has not had a chance to open up into the spectrum of styles of music he yearned to play. Tyler has been biding time playing in weddings, in local orchestras, and occasionally going to some jam sessions here in Columbus trying to keep in touch with some local musicians. It wasn't until he came in contact with a certain Ric "Dah Fiddlah" Smith that he was introduced to Homeland and the celtic rock world that Tyler gave any serious thought to the genre. He has, over the years, dabbled in Irish fiddle music and is a big fan of groups like The Chieftains, The Corrs, and Whiskey Asylum. After meeting with the guys of Homeland and rehearsing one balmy Sunday afternoon, which was a total blast, Tyler was invited to join the band. "I'm totally stoked to play with these guys. They have a lot of fun playing and they have an excellent sound. I'll never be able to replace "Dah Fiddlah", but I'm looking forward to making some sweet, sweet music," He states.
When not performing with Homeland, you can find Tyler helping customers at The Loft Violin Shop or shipping The Loft Sponge Shoulder Rest all over the world.
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