Dennis Ritchie is an experienced and fully qualified music educator and multi-instrumentalist with over 40 years of teaching and performing experience across New Zealand and Australia. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Otago, a teaching diploma from Christchurch Teachers College, and a postgraduate diploma in Audio Engineering (Tonmeister) from the School of Audio Engineering, Sydney. He also holds advanced performance certifications in classical guitar from Trinity College London.

Dennis brings a rare combination of deep musical knowledge and wide-ranging experience to every lesson. As an enthusiastic and adaptable teacher, he tailors his approach to the needs of each individual student—always encouraging growth through a positive and supportive learning environment.

He has taught a wide range of instruments including classical, jazz, and folk guitar, as well as drums and percussion, in both classroom and individual settings. He has contributed to numerous school music programs and was part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Itinerant Teaching Scheme.

As a performer, Dennis has played guitar and drums in professional productions of West Side Story, Les Misérables, Chess, My Fair Lady, and Oklahoma, among others. He has also collaborated with renowned musicians including Professor Holly Hofmann, Leon Gaer, Bruce Paulsen, and the late Rodger Fox. He continues to record and publish original compositions, including commissioned works by Professor Claudio Tripputi from the University of Buenos Aires.