Richard Howarth Conductor | Resume

Richard Howarth has had a distinguished career as a violinist, leading and directing orchestras for over twenty years. He brings to conducting a wealth of experience and dynamism to inspire both musicians and audiences.

Richard is as comfortable working with elite orchestras as he is with training and educating amateur and youth groups.

Richard has conducted Manchester Camerata, the Ulster Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the London, Scottish and Manchester Concert Orchestras and, from the violin, has directed Manchester Camerata and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

He is in demand as a string coach/conductor and works regularly at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music. As an educator, Richard Howarth is Principal Conductor of the Vale Royal String Orchestra, Sale Chamber Orchestra and Manchester Youth String Orchestra. He is a regular guest conductor of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and coaches Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and Stockport Symphony Orchestra.

Trained as a violinist at the Royal College of Music in London, Richard worked with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and as Leader of the Ulster Orchestra before becoming Leader of Manchester Camerata.

He has been a guest leader with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Scottish and Welsh Symphony Orchestras, the BBC Philharmonic, the Halle, Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, East of England Orchestra and Bournemouth Sinfonietta.

Richard Howarth | Educator

Richard is in demand in a variety of teaching environments. As a regular visitor to the Royal Northern College of Music as an orchestral coach, he enjoys the challenge of imparting his “know how” to students, many of whom will go on to play in the major orchestras of the UK and beyond.

Richard conducts the MYSO (Manchester Youth String Orchestra), an advanced group for 11 to 18 year olds run by Manchester Music Service. In the two years since it started, MYSO has progressed at an astonishing rate.

Amateur orchestras feature in Richard’s work. He is Conductor/Music Director of Sale Chamber Orchestra and Vale Royal String Orchestra and, as a guest, has conducted Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and coached Huddersfield Philharmonic and Stockport Symphony Orchestra. He has been invited to conduct Sheffield Chamber Orchestra in their 2007/8 season.

In order to engage with amateur players and to show them how to play to the best of their combined abilities, it is essential to have confidence in yourself and achievable targets for each session. Richard seems to strike a balance which enables all the participants to enjoy their own contribution and that of the whole group.