Steven K. Ricks, president of Celebrations In Music, Inc., the nonprofit Idaho corporation which produces Hymns of Thanksgiving, was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Borah High School. After obtaining an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in Political Science, he studied law, receiving a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho. Returning to Boise, he maintained a private law practice before retiring in 1996.

Steven has been extensively involved in public service in the valley and state for many years. Presently, he is one of five elected Trustees on the Board of Trustees of the Ada Community Library, which operates four branch libraries in various locations in Ada County.

By far the most intense public service to which Steven is devoted is the annual production of Hymns of Thanksgiving, Idaho’s yearly celebration of our uniquely American holiday. Steven works on this event throughout the year, but in August, September, October, and November it becomes the primary focus of his attention.

Steven is married to the former Susanne Haslam, a very accomplished pianist and organist, who is the rehearsal accompanist for the Hymns of Thanksgiving Choir. Steven and Susanne have six children and seventeen grandchildren. They have lived in southwest Ada County for over 40 years.

Kirt and Lorrie (Hallmark) Naylor, Hymns of Thanksgiving Choir Personnel Directors, grew up in Boise and graduated together from Borah High School. Lorrie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University before marrying her long-time friend. Kirt graduated from Brigham Young University in International Relations and then received his Juris Doctorate degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU.

Kirt and Lorrie returned to Boise with their three children where Kirt worked as a county deputy prosecuting attorney before practicing civil law as a litigator. He is the co-founder of the Boise law firm Naylor & Hales, and is now retired. He enjoys providing pro bono service as attorney for Guardians ad Litem in the Child Protection courts, and served as the chairman of the Idaho Governor’s Task Force on Children at Risk.

 Lorrie taught for years as a substitute teacher while her children were in the Boise Schools, is a Guardian ad Litem, serving children in foster care, and shares her interests and talents for gardening, quilting, and reading with friends, children and her nine grandchildren. Except for two concert years when they were on church service to Norway, Lorrie and Kirt have sung in or been involved with the Hymns of Thanksgiving Choir every year.

Jennie Ficks, Hymns of Thanksgiving Orchestra Personnel Director (winds and brass), also plays the horn in the Orchestra. She has been organizing musicians and her own music library almost continuously since 1974.

Jennie has served in both volunteer and professional music/personnel management positions for the Boise Philharmonic, the Treasure Valley Youth Symphony, several BSU student ensembles, Boise Music Week, Humboldt State University’s Chamber Music Workshop, numerous church music groups, and several brass and wind quintets.

She has organized large gala concerts on National Cancer Survivors Day in 2003, 2004, and 2005 as a tribute to her late brother Bill. She has raised money to help those currently battling the disease through the St. Alphonsus Medical Center Foundation. Miss Ficks is currently employed by Boise State University in the Department of Music.

Jonelle Anderson-Darrow, Hymns of Thanksgiving Orchestra Personnel Director (strings) 

Petra Schwarthoff, Hymns of Thanksgiving Orchestra Librarian

Petra was born and raised in Germany. After finishing music college in Germany, she and her husband decided to embark on a two-year adventure living in the United States of America. Many years later they are still in America with three grown children, a home, and enjoying their lives together in beautiful Boise.

Petra has a Masters in Music Education from Ithaca College, and a German degree (“Diplom”) from Hochschule Koeln in Germany. She taught in the Ithaca School District for four years, and performed with a number of different orchestras, including the Cornell Baroque Ensemble (Ithaca, NY) (which features performances on historic instruments), Westerville Symphony (Columbus. OH), and the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes (Elmira, NY). A few years ago Petra discovered the freedom of improvising and going off the written page and  can be seen with many different music groups in Boise like June Babie (Modern Swing), Cheatgrass (Oldtime & Bluegrass), Cattywampus (Renaissance and more). Since she also loves sheet music, bookkeeping, and bowings she volunteered to become Hymns of Thanksgiving Orchestra Librarian.