Remembering Richard Pace

 
The early music community lost a giant when my dear friend, Richard Pace, passed away on March 13.  Richard was a leader, a listener, and a performer. He served as President of the Amherst Early Music Festival for over a decade and was instrumental in expanding its activities.
 
He also served as President of S’Cool Sounds, an organization founded by Nina Stern, that provides musical instruction to thousands of underprivileged children in the New York City schools and in Nairobi, Kenya.
 
Richard lived for music.  He sang tenor and played the recorder and dulcian.  He served as President of the Oratorio Society in New York  City and sang in a concert celebrating its 150th anniversary the week before he died.  He and I had recorder lessons in consecutive times with Nina Stern on Friday mornings and we often played duets together (Telemann was a particular favorite) under Nina’s guidance.   
 
Richard had been Chief Technology Officer at The Bank of New York and his business and financial expertise were invaluable to the musical organizations that he served.  He was a strategic thinker and his guidance to musical organizations seeking to navigate the new and difficult waters of the last few years was irreplaceable.
 
People like Richard come along all too rarely.  He was a valuable member of the early music community and he will be missed.
 

Peter L. Faber
March 20, 2024