"an articulate musician with zest, spontaneity, technical assurance and a lovely sense of line…a major talent." Helen Wallace, BBC Music Magazine

Since making his concerto debut at age ten, English cellist Richard Harwood has performed in leading concert halls around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Musikverein. He has appeared as a soloist with renowned conductors such as Yehudi Menuhin and Vasily Petrenko, and with orchestras including The Philharmonia and the RTÉ National Symphony. A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists like Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia, and the Jerusalem Quartet. His recordings span classical and film music, with highlights including Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and contributions to major film scores such as Murder on the Orient Express.

Richard became principal cellist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 2024, following similar roles with the Royal Philharmonic and John Wilson orchestras. He is a frequent guest principal with top UK ensembles and began teaching at the Royal College of Music in the same year. Trained by distinguished teachers including Heinrich Schiff and Ralph Kirshbaum, and enriched by masterclasses with legends like Rostropovich and Starker, Richard plays a 1692 Francesco Rugeri cello.

"His playing is hard to beat for sheer beauty of tone."
Janet Banks, The Strad

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