Richard Birchall

Cellist

Richard Birchall read Music at Cambridge University and studied as a postgraduate cellist at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, under Louise Hopkins.

Richard pursues a varied and colourful career as cellist, composer, arranger and orchestrator. As no. 3 cello in the Philharmonia Orchestra he performs regularly in the great concert halls of the world; he has also appeared as Guest Principal cello with the Phiharmonia, Royal Opera House, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, English Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and Irish Chamber Orchestra, and as concertmaster of the London Cello Orchestra. Richard’s solo and chamber work has ranged from Wigmore Hall to the catwalk at London Fashion Week. He was a founder member of cello octet Cellophony and is cellist of the Minerva Piano Trio.

Richard's arrangements and compositions have been performed at the BBC Proms, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Purcell Room, The Sage Gateshead and throughout the UK, and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and French and German national radio. Recent works include a Clarinet Concerto for Michael Collins, released on the BIS label; The Wind in the Willows for narrator and orchestra; Five Pieces for viola and piano; Conundra for cello and harp; and Alice in Wonderland for eight cellos and narrator, recorded and released by Cellophony Cello Octet with Simon Callow. Current commissions include a Sonata for the Philharmonia’s Principal Oboe, Timothy Rundle. As an arranger and orchestrator Richard has been commissioned by the Philharmonia, the London Cello Orchestra, the Doric and Tippett quartets, Trio Klein, violist Lawrence Power and others.

Richard has served as Deputy Chairman of the Philharmonia and on the Artistic Committee of the Park Lane Group.