Richard was extremely unfortunate not to have reached the final after giving exceptional performances in the first and semi-final rounds.

From over 200 applicants, 77 participants from 24 countries travelled to France to compete. Richard was the only British candidate to progress beyond the first round.

'Cellists who have received "mentions" in the past include Alban Gerhardt, Alexander Baillie, Ulrich Heinen, and Liwei Qin.

The distinguised jury consisted of;
Chairman : Mstislav Rostropovich
Natalia Shakovskaya [Russia], Young-Chang Cho [Korea], Frans Helmerson [Sweden], Gary Hoffman [USA], Alain Meunier [France], Philippe Muller [France], Arto Noras [Finland], Raimund Trenkler [Germany], Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi [Japan], Etienne Vatelot [France].

Richard performed the following competition repertoire;

First Round (77 participants) - 11/11/05 at 15:10
Venue:
Conservatoire National de Région de Paris

Repertoire:
J.S. Bach, Solo Suite I, BWV 1007 (Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande)
George Crumb, Solo Sonata

Second Round (25 participants) - 16/11/05 at 09:00!
Venue:
Amphithéâtre de l’Opéra Bastille

Repertoire:
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, "Oyan!" for solo 'cello
(work composed for the Competition and sent to participants one month prior to the first round)
Debussy, Sonata
Beethoven, Sonata in C major, op.102 no.1
Popper, Dance of the Elves
(with Véronique Roux, piano)