Biography
MMus Masters Degree in Composition, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
BMus (first class) Degree in Music, Birmingham University
Richard is a professional composer, conductor and creative workshop leader. He has curated Colston Hall's flagship new music series 'Elektrostatic' since 2008. His work ranges from opera and choral music to interactive video and music installations. Richard has also written and recorded scores for feature-length films. He recently composed and conducted his first hour-long opera-oratorio The Journey for Welsh National Opera MAX and was subsequently commissioned to rework the piece as a full-length professional opera for WNO.
Other commissions have included music for Opera North, Bristol Ensemble, Bath Pump Rooms, Bristol Cathedral Choir, Christian Forshaw’s Sanctuary project, Bristol Voices, Kungsbacka Trio and New Bristol Sinfonia.
He regularly leads and works on high-profile national and international education projects in universities, schools, colleges and prisons, working with Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Philharmonia Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Music Theatre Wales, London Sinfonietta, SPNM, Bath Festival and BBC Proms.
Reviews
ON ELEKTROSTATIC:
"Enterprising dalliance with the new"
Venue Magazine Oct 2009
"Bristol's flagship purveyor of the new... voraciously open-minded"
Venue Magazine May 2010
"8/10 - Intruiging...refreshing... Roger Huckle, Neal Farwell and Richard Barnard again shared their joy of contemporary music."
Bristol Evening Post May 2010
ON RICHARD BARNARD'S MUSIC:
"Eerily beautiful high concept classical composition"
Venue Magazine on Routes from Here
"The music learned from the practical simplicity of Britten and others without ever losing its own, fresh and up to date, characterisation and energy. A really difficult task brought off with great aplomb."
Composer Geoff Poole on The Journey
“I immensely enjoyed your O Magnum Mysterium … I do think other choirs would benefit from and enjoy singing it.”
Dr Andreas Prindl CBE: Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians
“Otto was perfect … moving, witty, beautifully balanced and integrated within a tricky medium… a marvellous bridge between composition and musicology.”
Professor Stephen Banfield: Head of Music, Bristol University.
“An ethereal soundtrack… as if voices of angels are blending with the impossible sounds of breathing and footsteps of the ghostly hosts”
Big Issue – Best Art Installation: Hosts, Feb 13-19 2006
“You pulled together a wonderful performance at Blackheath and it was clear that the participants really enjoyed the project... Howard [Skempton] was delighted with the performance.”
Abigail Pogson: SPNM Executive Director
“I can’t take my eyes off Trombone Alterations... I love the coexistence of sight and sound - neither one detracting from the other. Of all I’ve seen at Corsham Festival, this is my absolute favourite”
Lizzy Ward: Corsham Festival Team
