RICHARD LAMBERT

Richard Lambert combines a career as composer, organist and conductor. Recent works include a second string quartet, a sonata for timpani and piano (2020), a bassoon sonata (premiered in Cyprus), a euphonium sonata (premiered in Florida), ‘Gloria, laus et honor’ – an organ toccata (premiered in LA), and an opera, The Yellow Dress, produced at the Tête-à-Tête opera festival in London.

His earlier compositions were influenced by twentieth-century mainstream styles, with traces of jazz and popular music. His more recent music uses a freely atonal idiom or strict twelve-note techniques, combined with closely worked structures. He worked with composers Elizabeth Poston and Malcolm Williamson over many years; with Sebastian Forbes at the University of Surrey, and more recently, with Francis Pott at the University of West London.

His compositions have been performed in the UK, Europe, North and South America, Africa and S.E.Asia. They are published currently by eight different publishers. In 2020, Richard became a house composer with United Music Publishing, who now publish the majority of his work.

Richard’s teaching career spanned 34 years in four schools (32 of which were as Director of Music) culminating at St Helen’s School in Northwood, London.

As an organist, he plays regularly in churches throughout his local area, and has performed in several cathedrals, including Barcelona, Singapore, Nairobi and Jakarta.

As a harpsichordist, Richard has played continuo with numerous ensembles, including Vivaldi Concertante. As a soloist he has performed in venues such as Castle Howard and Apsley House (No. 1, London). He currently plays a 1962 instrument by Robert Goble.

He was a Senior Examiner, Trainer and Moderator for the London College of Music ( at the University of West London) from 1989 to 2023, travelling to many centres in UK, Europe, North and South America, Africa and S.E.Asia. He very much enjoyed this work, drawing on his long experience of music-making and working with young people.

As a conductor he has given performances of many large-scale choral works, orchestral works, operas and musicals. He has directed three chamber choirs, including Chanticleer and Hitchin Orpheus Choir. His performing experience with piano, organ, harpsichord, trumpet, trombone and guitar also informs his composing work.

Richard has written a highly successful GCSE music guide, published by Longman (Pearson Education), and he is a member of both PRS (Performing Rights Society for Music) and ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society Ltd).  In 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and in 2015 he was awarded a Fellowship of the London College of Music in composition.  More recently, he was elected a Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers. He is a member of both the Elgar Society and the Worcestershire Organists’ Association.