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Richard Smith ARMCM(perf) LMusVCM FVCM(Hons) LRAM ARCM FRSA
The lineage of pianists in which Richard Smith takes his place is an impressive one. He has been taught by the pianists Gordon Green and Herbert Fryer (Mr Fryer being one of the greatest teachers of the mid-20th Century). Richard Smith is a fifth generation pupil of Liszt, and a second generation pupil of Busoni.
His style of performance and technique continues the Viennese piano, Mozart-Chopin-Debussy evolutionary strand. Their fundamental principles being that of playing with 'bon ton' (good taste) and the production of a fine, 'singing' tone. These are the principles which define Richard Smith the pianist.
Richard Smith is a musician based in his home town of Southport, Lancashire, England. His musical experience has been extraordinarily wide ranging, beginning as a professional performer in light music at the age of 12, international recitalist, Concert Director and tutor of pianoforte, Harmony and Orchestration. A Musical Adviser and Innovator, his Story-Recitals (which he performed for Music International of London), have a format distinctly his own since they combine both a deep knowledge of music and history.
Chronology
Richard Smith began piano before he was 5 years old, then played with 'big bands' when he was 12. He then went on to own his own band at the age of 15 after which he played at Liverpool's famous Reece's Restaurant for 4 years where he and his band played every night until the early hours.
He left popular music when he obtained a Scholarship the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern) where he studied with Gordon Green on a Performers course. This was followed by 3 years study in London with the legendary Herbert Fryer (himself a pupil of Busoni).
Proceeds of Richard Smiths debut at the Wigmore Hall were committed to the fund to endow a bed for the Musicians Benevolent Fund when Herbert Fryer died. Numerous concerts followed, including work in television and radio.
Director of Concerts and Recitals
As Director of Concerts and Recitals to Southport Corporation, he widened the scope of music from the most rudimentary beginnings to create the Southport Wednesday mid-day Recitals and under his direction this achieved the highest attendance in Britain. This series was based mainly on the British Royal Schools, but later, included selected young artists from European Conservatoires, the Royal Ballet school, the London Opera Centre, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Yehudi Menuhin School and others, yet never neglecting the young artists of his own town and area. With the help of the Arts Council of Great Britain he designed and organized a National Organ Competition working as Artistic Advisor to the Trinity Festival of the Arts.
National Orchestras like the Halle and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and then International Orchestras and Chamber Orchestras from Warsaw and Bulgaria became regular visitors to Southport. The explosion of events of all types was a powerful impetus to Southport Corporation opening the Southport Arts Centre.
View my concert directing photo gallery
Performances
Richard Smith's performing career has been one of great success with appearances in Germany and Holland, concertos, two Mid-day Recitals in the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Manchester Tuesday Mid-day recitals, Liverpool University Music Society and numerous other Concerts for various musical Societies, Clubs and Organizations, including concerts in many parts of Britain on behalf of Music International as a story recitalist.
Press Reviews
"He is musical, full of feeling, tender of expression and gifted with a serviceable talent for the piano."
The Times, Amsterdam
"There was considerable thought and feeling behind his playing."
The Times, London
"A compelling sense of musicianship and an exceptionally wide range of tone colour...he is able to make the piano sing."
The Liverpool Daily Post and Echo
"We must commend both the pianist and artist in him for industry and serious endeavor"
Die Welt, Hamburg
The Story Recital
This was a new concept of solo performance by Richard Smith which he played for Music International of London, playing this programs throughout the UK. A review of the first Story Recital in Southport captures the style...
Music and Talk is Unique Blend:
" A new sort of musical occasion - the story-recital - has been devised and premiered in Southport by Concert Director, Richard Smith. He has divided the life of Chopin into four of these recitals and the first was presented to the Christ Church Saturday Society. Mr Smith divided the 55 minutes equally between playing and reminiscing, both without notes. His phenomenal memory stretched between the issues of European history and the finer interpretations of Chopin's music with equal ease.
In presenting the story-recitals, Richard Smith hopes to recreate something of the atmosphere of an original Chopin recital, with relatively small groups of people clustered near the piano as he pours out the life and ideas of his favorite pianistic genius."
Click
on the image on the right to view the story recital
program 
Teaching
Richard Smith has always given serious commitment to teaching, often as a teacher of teachers and of young pianists of promise. His students have won open Scholarships to Royal Schools, the Guildhall School in London, Shrewsbury School, and have achieved outstanding success in the wider world.
Brendan Carroll studied with Richard from the age of 15 until 17, when he then successfully obtained a Scholarship into Christ the King music teacher training college. It was remarked by the admissions board that Brendan had 'the best technique of anyone that had applied to enter the College' Click here to read about Brendan's outstanding career.
Mark Fielding is now a London Chamber Pianist and recording artist. Mark was trained by Richard Smith for an accompaniment Scholarship to the Guildhall.
Hazel Fanning is now Tutor at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester University and Royal Northern College of Music.
Rosalind Bieber who studied with Richard Smith for six years, was at the age of fifteen, the youngest person to win an Open Scholarship to the Royal Manchester College of Music. The following year, a Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music making her debut to the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the age of 21 as soloist with the Geraint Jones Orchestra, followed by a Recital in the Purcell Rooms.
These artists and others including his own son, Alexander, are testimony to years of successful teaching.
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