Biography
History
and
Contact
Richard is a classical saxophonist from Yorkshire who studied at TrinityLaban Conservatoire, where he was under the expert training of Gerard McChrystal, Mick Foster, Stephen Preston and Anna Pope. Richard first began his music training at the age of fourteen under the training of Rachel Hammerton and Andy Scott. He has performed with The London Euphonia Orchestra, The Sinfonia Tamesa, The Humberside Police Band and The BBC Elstree Band.
With an extensive range of repertoire Richard is accomplished in classical and contemporary performance both as a soloist, chamber and orchestral player.
Richard specialises and has a great passion for baroque music which he performs, transcribes and arranges for saxophone. While at TrinityLaban he trained under Stephen Preston, a baroque flutist, for a year of his degree to concentrate and explore his passion on a larger scale from solo to chamber and orchestral playing within a baroque setting. This lead on to his forming of The NorthGate Society, which looks at various groups and formations performing transcriptions and arrangements of pieces from Baroque through to the Romantic era and exploring the idea of 3D sound in recording.
Through out his time Richard has had the great pleasure of having guidance and working with some formidable people such as, Mario Marzi, Antonio D, Vincent David, Karl Hurch, Lara James, The Siziji Saxophone Quartet, Tim Reynish, Mark Heron and David Greco.
As well as the saxophone, Richard is an avid flutist and clarinetist and has enjoyed preforming within orchestras and tripling in hand full of show bands for such shows as Oliver, Bugsy Malone, Little Shop of Horrors and Sweeny Todd.
Studied with
Gerard McChrystal
&
Andy Scott
Early Life
Richard is originally from the small port town of Hull, Yorkshire. As a young child and teenager Richard was always performing on stage with musical theatre groups and school/local choirs. Aged fourteen he branched out further into the arts and began learning ballet as the saxophone. He began lessons with Rachel Hammerton with free lessons through a school performing arts scheme.
Within a year Richard would also take up the Double Bass, the Flute and Piano and become a full time member of The City of Hull Youth Music Service, performing regularly with The City of Hull Youth Symphony Wind Orchestra, The City of Hull Youth Senior Jazz Orchestra, The City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, The City of Hull Youth Senior String Orchestra and The City of Hull Youth Choir.
By the age of sixteen Richard had accomplished Grade 8 ABRSM in a variety of his instruments including the saxophone as well as performing as a member with The Hull Philharmonic Orchetsra, The Humberside Police Concert Band and The Hull TA Marching Band.
From sixteen to nineteen Richard studied music at Wyke Sixth Form College under Gareth Reaks (BA(Hons) Percussion from Birmingham Conservatoir) where he began to explore more in depth opera and choral performace as well as his baroque roots, as well as remaining with Rachel Hammerton. Richard performed in many early choral works such as Dido and Aeneas and King Arthur and Vivaldi's Gloria.
Later Life
Aged nineteen Richard began advanced lessons with Andy Scott through the city Music serivce scheme for advanced players. He also began performing in pit orchestra's for local amatuer drama societies in such shows as Bugsy Maloon, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweeny Tood and The Mikado. He began audition for music conservatoiures and was accepted into Trinity College of Music where he began his studies in 2011.
Once at TLC Richard commenced his private studies under Gerard McCrystal and Melanie Henry. Richard also had the pleasure of studying under Anna Pope, Stephen Preston and Mick Foster throughout his time at TLC. Here Richard was able to fully explore his passion for baroque music both performance and transcriptions.
Under the careful guidance of Gerard McCrystal Richard was able to excelle techniqually and musically as well as explore the more contemporary styles of playing and finding rare and hidden composers. During his time at TLC Richard found a real passion for chamber and orchestral performance, performing regularly with The NorthGate Saxophone Quartet as well as various amateur orchestras including The London Euphonia Orchestra and The Sifonia Tamesa.
Teaching
During his time in London Richard has taken on various students of all ages and standard and has worked closely with children have had special needs and/learning difficulties. In the near future Richard is looking to do regular out reach work with local schools and nursing facitiles, working closely with children to bring classical music back into the homes every where.
(Richard is always available to hire for schools or group teachings, just click the contact button above).