On Friday, January 9th, Richard won the 2004 Pierre Fournier Award for 'cellists. The two-round competition took place over two days at the Wigmore Hall before a distinguished panel, including Colin Carr, Karine Georgian, Ralph Kirshbaum, Raphael Wallfisch, Eleanor Warren, Moray Welsh, and Ian Brown.

During the first round, the panel selected excerpts from Richard's submitted programme of Beethoven, Barber, Butler, and Rachmaninov. The final round was a 45 minute performance of Beethoven's Sonata in D major, Martin Butler's 'Siward's River Song' for solo 'cello, and the Barber Sonata.

Throughout the competition, Richard was partnered by the young Romanian pianist, Irina Botan.

As Pierre Fournier Award winner 2004, Richard receives a full recital at the Wigmore Hall next season, a recital performance at this year's RNCM Manchester International 'Cello Festival, amongst a host of other performing opportunities.