“The [Kansas City Summerfest] concert’s second half was solidly anchored by the premiere of Mary Alice Rich’s ‘Quintet’ for clarinet and string quartet. Rich’s compact, 12-minute piece was fresh, earthy and original.”

~Robert Eisele,

The Kansas City Star.

“By traditional definitions, Mary Alice Rich-Wittrig’s 1999 Sonata for viola and piano could be interpreted as feminized Bartok. There are suggestions of the Hungarian composer’s folk-influenced angularities and ‘exotic’ modal inflections, but here kinder, gentler, more nurturing.”

~Scott Cantrell,

The Dallas Morning News

“The second movement [of the Viola Sonata] begins with a beautiful piano introduction… The chord progressions in the movement are gorgeous and sometimes very unexpected and poignant… The work as a whole is written in a much more serious manner… Both the viola and piano parts are well-written idiomatically… This work is highly recommended for anyone interested in diversifying their recital repertoire with a fresh, new, rarely-heard work.”

~Kenneth Martinson,

Journal of the American Viola Society

“Mary Alice Rich’s Interview–A Song Cycle for a Violinist represents a newer fashion variously labeled neoromanticism or new tonalism. Written for Mr. [Motoi] Takeda, the nine compact movements – 15 minutes’ worth-imagine him as a young boy starting violin lessons, later studying at Juilliard, then landing in the Southwest. The music embraces simple statement, soaring lyricism, a gruff Bartokian dance and Texas a hoedown. As in Schumann’s song cycles, recurrent motifs tie the movements together.”

~Scott Cantell,

The Dallas Morning News

“Rondino Gioviale by Mary Alice Rich, published by Neil A. Kjos…An absolutely delightful little piece-the kids love it. Each section has a ‘soli’ part, including the basses and violas. They love this. I wish all composers would catch on to this small fact. Great for teaching different articulations in syncopation.”

~Jann Howell,

SC Musician Magazine