Lewisburg, Pennsylvania - Riana Ricci Muller, 83, of Lewisburg, died on Wednesday, July 15, at the WellSpan Evangelical Hospital at 7:05 p.m.

Riana was born in Orange, Calif., on July 14, 1943, to Ruth Helen Rink and Ruggiero Ricci.

Riana began her studies of the violin at age 3 with her parents Ruggiero and Ruth.

She received her B.M. and M.M. at the Eastman School of Music in 1965 and 1969 respectively and studied violin under Joseph Knitzer, Carroll Glenn, Louis Persinger and her father, Ruggiero Ricci.

Riana performed with her husband, William, in the Muller Duo, playing on her violin and Bill on his viola. She performed in numerous symphony orchestras including the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (first violin), New York Gilbert and Sullivan Society Orchestra and the Rockland Opera Society Orchestra for eight years.

Riana also taught at Lycoming College, Hoff-Barthelson Music School, College of St. Benedict, Amarillo College, Hendrick Hudson School District, Auburn public schools, the School of the Visual and Performing Arts, Bellevue public schools and Massapequa public schools.

Riana developed a CD/DVD of lessons for introducing Classical Italian, Spanish and French composers into foreign language classes.

Riana was awarded the Medal Diplome d'honneur from the Eugene Ysaye-Fondation Brussels, Belgium; October 1978, The Certificate of Commendation for Chamber Music Teaching from Chamber Music America, May 1993. Riana is also listed in the International Who's Who in Music and Musicians Directory Volume 1.

Riana's articles have been published in the America String Teacher and the New York School of Music News and she has performed on MPR and WNYC radio.

Riana is survived by her daughter, Christine Muller; brother Gian-Franco Ricci (Natalia); her sister Paola Hopp (Tom); her stepmother Julia Ricci; her sisters-in-law Gail DeTommasi (Anthony), Alicia May (Wayne) and Sandra Redden (David); her fur babies Smokey and Teddy; and many nieces and nephews.

Riana was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, William Paul Muller; her father, Ruggiero Ricci; her mother, Ruth Rink; her sister Rosalin (Rosie) Ricci Relyea; her brother Roger Ricci; and her poodles Cleopatra, Nefertiti and Mimi.

Riana was a very kindhearted, thoughtful and caring person. No matter the level of her students, she encouraged and saw the potential that they hadn't realized yet. She treated all her students the same. Riana had incredible skill and professional agility on the violin. Her technique drew the listener in and amazed most professionals in the music community.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Commons Room at Buffalo Valley with services at the Lewisburg Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Riana enjoyed spending time with her friends in the Shikilimo Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and the time she spent acting as treasurer from 2019 to 2022.

Donations can be made in memory of Riana to Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Arrangements by the John H. Shaw II Funeral Home, Lewisburg.