Instrument: Cello

Richard May has pursued an international career as soloist and chamber musician, performing many of the major cello concertos with such orchestras as the Basel Symphony, Ulster and BBC Philharmonic, and appearing throughout the UK, North and South America, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Andorra, Ukraine, South Africa, Japan, Cayman Islands, including performances at the Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Barbican and South Bank Centres, and at festivals in Salzburg, Berlin, London and Aldeburgh. He has performed live on television and radio, both nationally and internationally, and featured as soloist in works for cello and choir on a Naxos CD “All Shall be Well”, including the world premiere recording of Roxanna Panufnik’s work of the same name. He has also performed as solo cellist in world premieres of works by Bob Chilcott and John Joubert. 
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After winning the BBC TV Young Musician of the Year String Section, his London debut recital at the Purcell Room included the world premiere of Five Duos for cello and piano by Colin Matthews, written for him. A Bach Solo Suites recital in Switzerland gained critical acclaim for “absolute perfection and virtuosity”. He also gave a televised recital for the series “Solo”, featuring British musicians, and has performed as soloist and chamber musician with Nigel Kennedy, Brodsky Quartet and guitarist Craig Ogden. 

Richard studied in London with Florence Hooton at Royal Academy of Music, then with William Pleeth, and Thomas Demenga at Basel Konservatorium. He won awards to study at Banff, Yale, Prussia Cove, and La Chaux-de-Fonds, with cellists Paul Tortelier, Aldo Parisot, Ralph Kirshbaum, and pianist Andras Schiff. Past prizes include the National Federation of Music Societies Award and the EMI Jacqueline Du Pre Competition, when The Times wrote of the Shostakovich Sonata “simply one of the most gripping performances I have heard”. 
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Richard was cellist of the Angell Piano Trio for twenty years, who were Ensemble-in-Residence at Aldeburgh and performed throughout the world. He has recorded for Naxos, Chandos, ASV, Priory, Sanctuary and Lorelt labels. 

Richard is a highly-regarded teacher and is Professor of Cello at Wells Cathedral Specialist Music School, University of Bristol, and is a former Professor of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His student successes include major scholarships to Julliard, RAM, RCM, ABRSM/Trinity Diplomas.  In November 2024 he was invited to give masterclasses and adjudicate a cello competition in Singapore. 

He is co-founder and Artistic Director of Encore Music Projects International Summer School, and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.