Richard is one of the UK's leading composer-animateurs with over 20 years experience. He works regularly with the leading orchestras, organisations and opera companies in the UK including CBSO, ETO, Opera North, Turtle Key Arts, BCMG, Sound and Music, and Welsh National Opera.
He works collaboratively with participants to develop musical ideas and create vivid musical experiences, bringing together professionals and non-professionals.
Richard has designed and led dozens of major projects working with children in primary and secondary schools, A-Level students, university undergraduates, young autistic people, children with disabilities and hearing impairments, community choirs and people in prison.
“A triumph! The audience loved it and it sounded so fabulous"
Garth MacArthur, BBC Singers, on At The Border

Composer for CBSO’s The Planets Project with Secondary School pupils in Birmingham:

Turtle Opera Oxford, working as a composer and workshops leader:

Composer & workshop leader with:
Welsh National Opera (7 projects)
Opera North (5 projects)
CBSO (4 projects)
Bath Festival (2 projects)
Turtle Key Arts (5 projects)
Operasonic (2 projects)
Manchester Camerata (2 projects)
London Sinfonietta (5 projects)
Iford Arts (2 projects)
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Eighth Blackbird
BBC Singers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Music Theatre Wales
Live Music Now
Bristol Ensemble and Elmfield Deaf School (2 projects)

Richard's composing workshop was selected to illustrate national 'Good Practice' by Ofsted in 2012:

"It was a really excellent piece, the children performed so well – a triumph I think!"
Hazel Plowman, Bath Festival commission 2017

"Bringing together such diverse musical influences and integrating the group's ideas into these in such a cohesive way was a huge undertaking, and the result was fabulous!"
Manchester Camerata on To Carthage

"It was very moving to see children perform a new piece inspired by the music of De Falla...of my homeland. If I had known it was going to be so good I would have asked them to perform it on stage."
conductor Jaime Martin (Manchester Camerata) on Candelas and The Witches Cave

“Richard Barnard has had a long association with Welsh National Opera’s youth and community work, leading participatory projects in the community and in schools... His music combines complexity with ravishing beauty.” Rhian Hutchings, Welsh National Opera

"Thanks for your workshop, I think it went very well and the outcomes / results were great."
Opera North (Young Creatives project 2015)

Richard and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies during the Elektrostatic Festival 2012

“Richard led the sessions so well - it is not easy keeping 16 young people moving in the same direction, make them feel valued in the process, give them space to add their creative input."
Paul Harrison, Churchill School

“Our children were really focused and professional on stage... they had total 'buy-in'.... a great achievement! ... You really have given them something to be very proud of that they will remember for a long time.”
Ellie Goodson, Elmfield School for Deaf Children (Reich On! & Hearing Beethoven Bristol Ensemble projects)