Donald Bick

October 10, 2004
Donald A. Bick, 56, of Richmond, Va., died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004.
He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Hargreaves, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; brother, John Hargreaves, of Great Meadows, N.J.; and nephew, John G. Hargreaves.
Mr. Bick was the associate professor of percussion at Virginia Commonwealth University and also served on the faculty of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz (Austria). A native of Wilkes-Barre, he was a 1966 graduate of GAR Memorial High School and was a member of its marching band. He held a bachelor of music from the Eastman School of Music and a master of music degree from the University of Maryland. Mr. Bick had extensive performing experience including 25 years as the principal percussionist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Graz Festival Orchestra as timpanist, in national tours performing with ``Holiday on Ice,' and with the United States Marine Band ("The President's Own"), the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap and Spoleto Festival Orchestra. Mr. Bick has been recorded for albums with Deutsche Gramophone, Phillips, Opus One, Elan, Vox-Turnabout and Centaur. He guided many students to successful teaching and performing careers as professional percussionists.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bliley Funeral Homes Central Chapel, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond. A memorial service will be held at noon Thursday in the W.E. Singleton Center at VCU. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of VCU Music, 922 Park Ave., Richmond, VA 23284-2004 to support scholarships for music students or to your local SPCA.