Richard became a barbershop nerd back in 1981, joining the Chesham Buccaneers in preference to singing madrigals - what a contrast!

Within a year, he was competing in quartet, as well as chorus, and starting to produce his own arrangements.

In 1982, a job move in his Civil Engineering career took Richard to Doncaster, and soon after he joined Hallmark of Harmony in Sheffield, subsequently becoming bass section leader and working on the Music Team with John Grant. Coaching and arranging became the norm.

In another quartet, Times Square, Richard won a national Bronze Medal in 1986, collecting the Gold Medal the following year. This was also a golden period for Hallmark of Harmony, during which time Richard became a Music Judge. In later years, Richard directed Harmony Lincs (Lincoln) and Lincoln Mix.

In 2013, a career change into Specialist Teaching (Autism) took Richard to Nottingham and he signed up with Grand Central Chorus, again singing under the direction of John Grant. Shortly afterwards, when John retired and Zac Booles took over, Richard became a member of the Music Team in the role of Music Coach and arranger; he was recently appointed with Mark Soave as co-director of the chorus, upon Zac’s departure.

Richard sang with Just in Time who won the Seniors Contest in 2012. Richard won a bronze medal with Mojo mixed quartet in 2016 and sings mixed chorus with Kantado, where he is MD.

Competition has been a significant part of Richard’s barbershop life; he has won 7 Gold, 11 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

The appetite for progress and success continues and Richard is excited to be working with Mark at Grand Central Chorus where new ways of singing together are being developed, in spite of COVID.