Violinist

A sought-after Hollywood Recording Musician for 28+ years,  A-List Violinist, and Principal for Danny Elfman, Richard has participated in over 1000 film scores with such composers as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Howard Shore, James Newton Howard, and the two late greats Jerry Goldsmith and John Barry.

Richard received his Master of Music Degree from University of Illinois where he graduated magna cum laude under the tutelage of Sergiu Luca. Formerly 1st Violinist of the Los Angeles Chamber, LA Opera, Joffrey Ballet, and Houston Symphony Orchestras, he has also served as Concertmaster of the Mozart Camerata, Associate Concertmaster of the Omaha, Berkeley, and Hollywood Bowl Orchestras, and member of the Fontenelle String Quartet.  For 10 years, Richard performed as Concertmaster of Auburn Symphony and InConcert Sierra. He has been featured locally as a chamber musician and as soloist for Music in the Mountains, inConcert Sierra, and the Apollo Arts Ensemble.

He now occasionally performs as First Violin in the Spokane Symphony, Concertmaster of the North Idaho Philharmonia and is active in chamber ensembles.

He presents two popular seminars at theatres, colleges and other teaching venues: A Century of Music in Film and Home Studio Recording on a Budget. (see under “LEARN” for details)

Richard and musician/singer wife Dawn are the proud parents of a very musical son Bren, and reside in North Idaho!

Short list of film and game recording credits:

Richard has performed live on the Academy Awards (including 2014)and The Tonight Show and has collaborated with Frank Sinatra, YoYo Ma, Barbra Streisand, Mannheim Steamroller and Childish Gambino among many others.

• Principal 2nd Violin for Danny Elfman (also has on occasion performed as such for Randy Newman and John Williams, among others…)
• October 2013 Principal 2nd for “Danny Elfman’s Music for the Films of Tim Burton” at LA’s Nokia Theatre – Richard received solo bows!

Other violin performance credits:

• Concertmaster of North Idaho Philharmonia
• Occasionally 1st Violin Spokane Symphony
• 10 years Concertmaster of Auburn Symphony
• 3 years Concertmaster InConcert Sierra Orchestra
• 3 years Principal 2nd Berkeley Symphony Orchestra
• 23 years 1st Violin Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
• 7 years 1st Violin Los Angeles Opera Orchestra(Associate Concertmaster occasionally)
• 4 years 1st Violin Houston Symphony Orchestra
• 4 years 1st Violin Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Associate Concertmaster occasionally)

Hear some of Richard’s thoughts on music, music-making, and the “Musozoic!”   5 snippets were taken from a radio interview on LA’s KMozart FM Station…