Richard is a freelance musical director, writer, pianist and vocal coach.
His early years were spent at at Hulme Grammar School for Boys, where he was a pianist, chorister and budding (if ultimately failed) trombonist! Having won the John Chadwick trophy for musical performance, he then left to study a BA (Hons) degree in Music at Southampton University.
Whilst there, he studied voice with John Wakefield, the former Wagnerian and Covent Garden tenor and then Head of Voice at Trinity Guildhall. He also directed, performed, musically directed and composed music for productions as varied as 'Iolanthe', 'Princess Ida', 'Little Shop of Horrors', 'Up on the Roof', 'Bent', 'One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest', 'Rock n Roll Alice in Wonderland', 'Troilus & Cressida' and 'Talking Heads' to name but a few. In addition he was privileged to study Composition with Matthew Scott (current Head of Music at the National Theatre), perform as a soloist in the Stravinsky Mass, tour the Czech Republic, enjoy performance and improvisation workshops with Dave Brubeck and help found the university's Musical Theatre Society.
He then studied an MA in Multimedia Music Design for Film & TV, under Stephen Deutsch at Bournemouth University.
During his studies, Richard worked professionally as musical director on the national tours of 'Emma' and 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles', both of which originated at the Kings Head Theatre.
After graduating, Richard worked & lived in London (via brief employment in a Forsyth's music shop in Manchester!) He taught voice privately as well as recording voice-overs, composing for the stage and musically directing. Credits at this time include the 'Two Flats & a Sharp', 'Mina Laury', '45755' (short-listed for the Vivian Ellis award) and 'More Light'.
Richard then spent seven years as a High School teacher before deciding to return to the profession from whence he came, and is now once more enjoying the varied (if stressful) lifestyle of a self-employed musician! During his employment at High School he was Head of Music & Performing Arts, in addition to being involved with the Jubilee & Harmony choirs. Since changing focus, he has enjoyed building his studio at home from where he now teaches singing to over 20 pupils a week. He also currently teaches singing at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Additionally, Richard has recently been commissioned to write a new Youth Theatre project alongside Martin Cleverley to take to on tour to Russia later this year. He is also developing his own theatrical material, due to be showcased at the brand new studio theatres at the Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone and the Headgate Theatre, Colchester. Future projects also include, creating a small touring theatre company, developing a variety of cabaret evening shows, corporate music workshops, developing special needs workshops and opening up music theatre youth-centred performance/creation opportunities to the local community.
He is involved with YMT:UK and NYMT (with whom he toured Japan as Musical Director and Workshop Leader) and is currently the resident MD for the Ipswich-based Gallery Players. He is also the MD for The Spa Pavilion's Annual Summer Youth Project, The Hazlitt Youth Theatre's annual musical and a team MD for Paul Holman Productions.
Theatre Credits (past, present & future) include:
Summer Holiday (Spa Pavilion); Spend, Spend, Spend; (New Wolsey Theatre); Cinderalla (Watersmeet Theatre); We Will Rock You (Spa Pavilion); Grand Hotel (New Wolsey Theatre); Working (Hazlitt Theatre); Passion (New Wolsey Theatre); Tess of the D’Urbervilles (New End Theatre & National Tour); A Threepenny Opera )Lyric Theatre); Oliver! (Spa Pavilion); Emma (King’s Head Theatre); Godspell (New Wolsey Theatre); A Celebrity Chef Ate My Hamster (Bridewell Theatre); Mina Laury (Brighton Arts Festival) Hamlet, Volpone and Canterbury Tales (The Cast Youth Theatre); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Edinburgh Festival); Do You Want Chilli Sauce With That (Sir John Mill's Theatre & Headgate Theatre); With Love (John Mills Theatre); Sweeny Todd, Dracula!, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma!, Les Miserables & various musical review shows.