Richard Ormrod

Professor of Piano

MA Cantab

Richard Ormrod is an acclaimed soloist. He has twice performed Beethoven concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by David Parry at the Barbican Centre, London, toured as concerto soloist with the Philharmonia Virtuosi in the Pacific Rim, from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and has made four international tours with the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, including to the United States, as well as playing with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta and Northern Chamber Orchestra among others in the United Kingdom. Richard also plays a wide range of recital repertory, from Bach to Beethoven, Brahms to Schoenberg, performing throughout the United Kingdom as well as in more than a dozen countries around the world. He was a semi-finalist in the Leeds International Piano Competition at the age of 19 and went on to win a number of prizes at international competitions including the Rubinstein and Tchaikovsky competitions.

Richard made his first concerto appearance at the age of ten playing Mozart. After studying with Beate Popperwell, and with Michael Young at Wells Cathedral School, he read music at King’s College, Cambridge. At age 17 Richard spent the first of five summers as an artist-in-residence at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. Later he studied for several years with Elisso Virsaladze at the Moscow Conservatory.

Chamber music has been central to Richard Ormrod’s musical life. He was awarded the accompanist prize at the Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition. As pianist with the Salzburg Hyperion Ensemble he has performed in numerous countries and he has also joined the renowned Dorian Wind Quintet on three US tours. Richard frequently performs with Trio d’Archi di Praga and joined the Czech Nonet for extended tours during their 85th Anniversary Season. In addition to becoming a recording artist, other highlights have included performances with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, broadcast live to 38 countries, and recitals in Central America at the National Theatre in Panama City and Los Angeles at the South Bay Center for the Arts.