Richard has developed a unique ability to coach singers and actors to break through their limitations and excel beyond their expectations.

As an accompanist, vocal coach, and music director, he creates a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment, which is, at the same time, stimulating, challenging, and demanding.

With his vast knowledge of vocal techniques and performance styles, Richard provides students with the solid foundation they need to engage completely and give a committed performance.

“I found him to be a total professional, and unrelenting in his desire to get the best out of our students.”

—Timothy Ryan, Program Chair, Theatre Arts Department, Grant MacEwan College

“He is able to work with musicians of all abilities and ages, he is patient and kind, and brings out the very best in those with whom he works.”

—Kate Sheehan, Performing Arts Teacher, Redwood City High School

“I never thought it even possible to sing the way I do with your support. You are such a part of transforming my experience with singing and all that comes along in discovering that.

“You are magical! Thank you so much for your contribution to me.”

—Wendy Kim, Singer

“[Richard] is a master at collaboration. [His] diverse talents, his role as a theater professional on the team, and his solid background as an educator, contributed greatly to the overall Artstrek experience for both students and instructors.

“His work ethic, talent, and strong pedagogy skills will take any project he embarks on to greater heights.”

—Lynda Adams, Head of Drama, Theatre Studies, Red Deer College

“[Richard] is universally regarded in the Department as an outstanding musician and teacher, and has always been a fine asset to the education of our students on each opportunity that we've had to work with him.”

—Roy Conboy, Chair, Theater Arts Department, San Francisco State University

See more (non-teaching-related) testimonials.

Richard has a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

He has a Masters in Holistic Health Education from John F. Kennedy University in Concord, California.

In his masters thesis, Teaching Art as a Spiritual Practice, Richard developed a new methodology for teaching performing arts. His thesis showed that honoring the individual—and focusing on the process, not the product—creates the best possible performance.

Richard also has a post-graduate certification from the University of West London.

Richard has co-taught years of group singing and acting classes with Shari Carlson at her San Francisco studios. Shari is a Master Awakener who uses experience and insight to guide the individual within a group setting to become the master of their instrument. She has over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach and has taught in Hollywood, San Francisco, Seattle and New York.

Lecturer and music director (October 2010–present)
London College of Music, University of West London
Ealing, London W5

BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme

• Music Theatre for Actors I
• Music Theatre for Actors II
• Music director Working April 2011
• Music director and composer Crazy in Love November 2011
• Conductor, glee choir

Director of Vocal Programme (July 2009–present)
La Bella Vita Arts, Tuscan Musical Theatre Project
Tuscany, Italy

• Programme design
• Musical theatre classes
• Performance coaching

Vocal Coach and Music Director (April 2009–May 2010)
Acting Intensive with Jude Alderson
Residential workshop in Bordeaux, France

• Programme design
• Musical theatre classes
• Performance coaching

Instructor (February 2006–present)
The Actor Centre
Covent Garden, London WC2

• Musical theatre classes
• Audition Bootcamp
• Cabaret classes

Artistic Director and Conductor (May 2011–present)
Actors Rechoired
Covent Garden, London WC2

Co-founder of a choir of singing actors, in the heart of the West End

Vocal Instructor (May 2006–July 2008)
John Robert Powers
Holborn, London W1

Musical theatre classes

Instructor and Music Director (Spring 2006)
Bedford College
Bedford, England

Performance class

• Class culminated in a production of Batboy the Musical.

Vocal Instructor (February 2006–May 2007)
Pineapple Studios
Covent Garden, London

Ongoing classes for children and adults.

Vocal Instructor and Music Director (March 2006–February 2007)
Anna Fiorentini Theatre and Film School
Hackney, London

Musical theatre classes that culminated in the performance of a revue at the Hackney Empire.

Instructor and Music Director (Fall 2005)
Grant MacEwan College Theatre Arts Program
Edmonton, Canada

Performance class

• Class culminated in a production of Sunday in the Park with George.

Director of Fine Arts and Education (1999–2005)
Saint Paulus Lutheran Church
San Francisco

• Conceived and created the multi-arts summer program Giving Voice.

  Giving Voice was devised to allow financially-disadvantaged youths the opportunity to “give voice” to their feelings, issues, and concerns in an artistic and supportive environment. Through a wide variety of classes in voice, drama, movement, and visual arts, students were able to explore, express, feel, develop—and most importantly, create community.

  Richard was the co-director and his duties included: grant writing, budget, scholarship funding and distribution, hiring the staff, and publicity. He also taught choral and general musicianship classes and in collaboration with the other staff created and rehearsed the final show.

• Choir Director

  Richard created, developed, and led the church’s choir, The Joyful Noise Singers.

• Richard’s numerous other responsibilities aren’t listed here because they were not teaching related. He also composed a great deal of sacred music.

Accompanist and Coach (1998–2005)
Shari Carlson Studio
San Francisco

• Accompanied the singers/actors (professional and student) in a wide variety of written and improvised music.
• Assisted in coaching the singers in vocal and performance techniques.
• Music Director and accompanist for numerous performances.

Instructor and Music Director (1997–2000)
San Francisco State University
San Francisco

Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop

• Class culminated in a production of Company.

Performance Class

• Classes culminated in productions of The Good Person of Sezuan, Mother Courage, Cabaret, and Sweeney Todd.

Instructor/Composer (1995, 1996, 1998)
ArtsTrek Summer Theatre Program
Red Deer, Canada

• Taught classes in composition, sound design, integrative arts, and musical theatre performance techniques.
• Music Director for Fiddler on the Roof and composer for The Good Person of Sezuan.

Instructor and Music Director (1996)
Citadel Theatre School
Edmonton

Advance Musical Theatre Performance for adults.

• Class culminated in a production of A Little Night Music.

Accompanist (1995)
University of Alberta, Theatre Department
Edmonton

• Vocal Technique and Musical Theatre Workshop

Instructor (1989, 1992, 1994)
Drama Works Summer Theatre Workshop
Edmonton

• Musical Theatre Performance Techniques

Instructor, Vocal Coach and Music Director (1990–94)
Grant MacEwan College Theatre Arts Program
Edmonton

Music Director for 13 shows:

• Five shows with the professional company: This Can’t Be Love, A Mid Summer’s Night Dream, Doctor Sterling and The Silver Shark, Poppy, Song of Singapore.
• Six full-scale student productions: Once on This Island, West Side Story, Into The Woods, Flora the Red Menace, Nine, City of Angels.
• Two workshop productions: The Human Comedy, A Little Night Music.
• Led Master Classes in Musical Theatre Performance Technique.
• Coached all the students.

Instructor and Music Director (1988–1996)
Kompany!
Edmonton

• Taught weekly classes in musical theatre and choral techniques.
• Music Director for numerous class productions (Follies, Maltby and Shire Revue).
• Music Director for professional productions that toured throughout Alberta (Life is a Cabaret, Ta Da, Boy’s Night Out).

Instructor and Music Director (1985–89)
Red Deer College Theatre Arts Program
Red Deer, Canada

• Music Director for 8 shows (A Chorus Line, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, The Fantastics, The Boys from Syracuse, Anne of Green Gables, From Berlin to Broadway, The Boyfriend, Dames at Sea).
• Conceived, directed, and Music Directed four Late Night Cabarets.
• Composed the scores for four plays (Mother Courage, She Stoops to Conquer, A Mid Summer’s Night Dream, Dark Side of the Moon).
• Taught classes in music theory, composition and Musical Theatre Performance Techniques.

Music Director (1983–85, 1993)
Medicine Hat College Theatre Arts Program
Medicine Hat, Canada

• Music Director for The Boy Friend.
• Composed scores for Hamlet, The Birds, The Exception and The Rule.

Music Director and Accompanist (1983)
Banff School of Fine Arts
Banff, Canada

• Music Director for A Noel Coward Song Book.
• Accompanist for vocal lessons and master classes.
• Rehearsal accompanist for The Music Man.