Richard Isaac

Richard began learning Cello at the age of eight, and at just eleven, won a scholarship for enhanced musical studies with the Milton Keynes Music Service. Following 5 years of study with David Smith at Chetham’s School of Music, Richard has been studying with Emma Ferrand and Gillian Thoday at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has participated in solo masterclasses with Ralph Kirschbaum, Hannah Roberts and Christoph Richter and Karine Georgian. Richard has performed in Manchester and surrounding counties, both as soloist and in string quartet & Trio, including the concerto music of Haydn, Schumann and Shostakovich and recitals encompassing the music of Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Prokofiev, Vivaldi, Martinů and Mendelssohn. The National Children’s Orchestra and other ensembles have provided Richard with performing opportunities throughout the Country. As principal cello of both Chetham’s Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Richard performed Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall with the Bach Choir under David Hill, and a programme of R. Strauss, Liebermann and Rachmaninov at the Bridgewater Hall, culminating in an end of year orchestral tour in the UK & Ischia. Richard has also worked under the baton of Mark Elder, Peter Stark and Charles Hazlewood amongst others. Winner of the Gold Medal in the 2009 Ealing Festival Concerto Competition, Richard was also winner of the 2009 Graucob Awards, and won the 2010 Chetham’s School of Music Senior Orchestra String Prize. With the Pether String Trio, he won the 2013 Hirsch Prize.