Chris Richards

Principal Clarinet

Member since 2010, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Mozart’s Gran Partita both drew me to the clarinet, which I began learning aged eight (after an attempt at the violin). I first heard the LSO live in 1994 on a National Youth Orchestra trip to hear the orchestra with Sir Colin Davis and Radu Lupu playing Mozart and Sibelius – a thrilling experience I will never forget!’

Chris Richards studied at the Guildhall School with Julian Farrell, Joy Farrall and Thea King. He reached the finals of the 2001 Shell/LSO competition, performing as a soloist with the LSO, and after his studies was appointed Principal Clarinet with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Chris joined the LSO as Principal Clarinet in 2010.

He has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the LSO, CBSO and Royal Northern Sinfonia with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, James Gaffigan, Robin Ticciati, Thomas Zehetmair and H K Gruber. Chris has played chamber music at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, LSO St Luke’s, The Sage Gateshead and Aldeburgh Festival with artists including Thomas Adès, Howard Shelley, Pascal Rogé and the Elias and Navarra string quartets.