“Richard Barnard’s Aura move[s] to a more rarified level, not depicting a scene so much as alluding to the mixed psychological sensations of the experience.” BBC Music Magazine, Sept 2025 (★★★★★ review for Radiant Dawn)

“Love this - beautiful. Original voice.” Roxanna Panufnik on The Flaming Heart

“Sea Love drew commendation across the board for its assured technique and sensitive word-setting… a great sense of clarity.” VOCES8

“We were all impressed with your setting’s individual musical language as well as idiomatic accompaniment and lyrical writing.” Judging panel for Paul Cairns Memorial Composition Competition 2025

“Your piece is a very well crafted response to Mew's charming poem. It impressed the judging panel - Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, Seán Doherty & myself - standing out amongst the 150 pieces we received from all over the world and despite a very high overall calibre.” Bernie Sherlock, New Dublin Voices Competition 2025

“The result is both effective and moving with a lovely ending. It feels like an epic adventure.” Paul Spicer on The Flaming Heart

“Richard has a unique voice that lifts the words off the page to create pieces that are at times haunting and full of impact and meaning. Choirs will find these pieces enjoyable and rewarding to sing and want to perform them time after time.” David Ogden, White Light Publishing

“An amazingly radiant, warm and hopeful piece… Everyone loved working on it.” Lucy Goddard, Orlando Chamber Choir on Da Pacem

Richard is regularly commissioned by choirs, writing music for The Gesualdo Six, BBC Singers, Bristol Cathedral Choir, Exultate Singers, St Georges Hanover Square, Paragon Singers, Bath Camerata, City of Bristol Choir and Orlando Chamber Choir. He has built a reputation for exquisitely crafted works that suit the choir and context perfectly. His music always begins with the text, drawing out its meaning and emotion.

Drama and lyricism are woven through Richard’s music. He brings the experience of working in opera and theatre to create dramatic narratives and emotional impact to his choral works. Key influences in his style are folk music and Renaissance counterpoint, combining with contemporary techniques to create a highly distinctive sound. His choral music is published by White Light Publishing.

SELECTED WORKS

AURA - ATB/ATB & trumpet - 6 mins - BUY SCORES

THE FLAMING HEART - SATB (S div.) & Organ - 8-10 mins - BUY SCORES

SEA LOVE - Double Choir (SSAATTBB) - 4 mins - BUY SCORES

THREE MASTS - SATB & Organ - 4 mins - BUY SCORES

VERSA EST IN LUCTUM - SSATTB - 4½ mins - BUY SCORES

DAWN SONG - SATB with divisi - 6 mins - BUY SCORES

I AM THE SONG - Double Choir and Semi Chorus - 4 mins - BUY SCORES

SAILOR’S CAROL - SATB - 4½ mins - BUY SCORES

INTERVAL - SAA - 3 mins