Richard Crabtree ARCM

Richard enjoys a well balanced musical life style which encompasses all the essential elements of a musician and instrumentalist of the 21^st Century. He studied violin and viola with Nicholas Roth at Trinity College of Music and went on to work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players and the original London Soloists Ensemble. Later as principal violist and soloist, he performed with the London Soloists Ensemble, Wessex Sinfonia, Clifton Virtuosi, Orchestra of the Swan, English National Baroque and the Emerald Ensemble. Richard is a solo commercially recorded artist and has been broadcasted on BBC Radio 3, 4, Classic FM and Greek RTA. He has also recorded solo sound tracks for television documentaries with BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4. His keen interest in promoting contemporary music has taken him throughout the UK and Europe, including a major tour of Turkmenistan. This was organised by the British Council and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture for the Makhtumkuli Festival. His performances were televised throughout the State, and Richard has the distinction of being the first British musician to perform there since Glasnost. Teaching Experience Richard is a Professor of the Viola and Violin at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance London, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He also teaches at Bristol, Bath and Goldsmiths Universities. Other students regularly fly in from Edinburgh, Paris, Toulouse, Nice, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Geneva for intensive study. He has coached in Korea, Spain, and the UK, and is a member of a team of world class teachers and soloists who give Recitals, Master Classes, Individual Coaching and Chamber Music for the Language Music for Life organisation. www.lmfl.org These courses are held in the UK, France, Andorra and Italy each year. Skype lessons are a new feature of Richard's work with students in Barcelona, Paris, Hong-Kong and Toulouse Students have won first prizes at National and International Competitions, and regularly gain places with the National Youth Orchestras of England and Wales. His most gifted Postgraduate students procure positions with all the major Orchestras in London, throughout the UK and abroad. Young professionals often return for refresher lessons when preparing for auditions. He is the teacher of the virtuoso violinist Julia Hwang whom he took as an absolute beginner at 7 years old and achieving her taking the 8 Trinity grades within 2 years. He is actively involved in developing her career as a solo artist. www.juliahwang.com Most recently he has produced the CRABBERS Scale Manual for Violin, Viola and Cello.. This unique system only uses letters and numbers and is designed for advanced students and Conservatoire Undergraduates. The system is endorsed by his colleagues who teach at the main conservatoires. Richard plays on a fine Nathanial Cross Viola, London Fecit 1731. Richard’s orchestral experience has included The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Mozart Players.As Principal Violist and Soloist, he has performed with The London Soloists Ensemble, The Wessex Sinfonia and The English National Baroque Ensemble.Richard is a solo commercially recorded artist and has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and 4, Classic FM and Greek RTA. He has also recorded solo sound tracks for television documentaries with the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.His keen interest in promoting contemporary music has taken him throughout the UK and Europe. The most significant tour was to the country of Turkmenistain, where his performances during the Makhtumkuli Festival were televised throughout the State. Here Richard had the distinction of being the first British musician to perform there since Glasnost.