Richard Ward

Richard Ward has been musical director at Surrey Brass since 2006 after a few years as assistant conductor. Born in Leeds, he studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and then at the Royal Academy of Music. Whilst at the Academy, Richard became a member of the prestigious European Union Youth Orchestra. He stayed in London and works as a freelance trombone player with groups such as BBC National Orchesra of Wales, City of Birmingham Symphony, Mahler Chamber, Philharmonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. He also enjoys working in the theatre and has done in London's 'West End', on major national productions of 'Chicago' and 'Miss Saigon' and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Richard loves travelling and is fortunate that work has taken him to some fabulous places such as Athens, Beijing, Milan, Rome, Tokyo, Shanghai and even Sunderland.

Richard has played under some of the 'great' conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle. However, after working with a number of 'not so great' conductors and unsuccessful attempts to suppress his megalomaniac tendencies, he started to conduct.

As well as his work with 'S.B.' , Richard conducts brass bands and has been musical director at London's Regent Brass since 2003. He has also worked as a rehearsal conductor and workshop leader with a number of student, educational and amateur groups including the Universities of London Symphony Orchestra and at the Junior Guildhall School of Music.