In addition to a career as a performing artist and studio teacher, he served as director of the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program, was editor-in-chief of Polyphonic.org, and affiliate faculty in jazz studies and contemporary media.
In September 2013, the Eastman School of Music honored Ricker as the first faculty member to receive the Dean’s Medal[3] in recognition of extraordinary leadership, dedication, service and philanthropy.
Throughout his professional career he has continued to perform on both instruments and is often a featured saxophone and clarinet soloist and chamber musician in venues throughout Europe and North America.
Among the jazz and popular music artists enlisting Ricker as a session and stage performer were Buddy Rich, Chuck Mangione, the Moody Blues, Warren Haynes, and the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration.
Notable musicians who studied under Ricker include Chien-Kwan Lin, Bob Sheppard, Ben Wendel, Walt Weiskopf, Charles Pillow, and Andrew Sterman.