Biographical Info

Emma-Ruth Richards is a composer much in demand in the UK and overseas, acclaimed for her understanding of both instrumental and vocal writing, earning her a role as a favourite among performing musicians and singers.

2017 saw the premieres of a new commission from London Sinfonietta, a new chamber orchestra piece for Britten Sinfonia premiered at the Barbican Centre, and Two Worlds CD release of ‘You Cannot Fold a Flood’. Also in 2017 saw a showcase of her new opera ‘Traffick’, written with librettist Nic Chalmers; ‘Traffick’ is commissioned and developed with the Nordland Teater, Norway and the Royal Opera House, London, and the Mahogany Opera Group’s Various Stages Festival. 2018/9 will see the premiere of a new cello duet for Classical Brit Award winner Guy Johnston and the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year Sheku Kanneh-Mason, American premieres of ‘Hora de la Cerc’ with Camerata Pacifica, California, portrait concerts in Manchester’s Stoller Hall, a new CD release with Parma Recordings and the New York premiere of ‘Dark Radiance’ at Carnegie Hall; upcoming projects include a new piano trio, string quartet and a cello concerto.

Previously, she has been commissioned by Opera North, London Philharmonia, Håkan Hardenberger, Colin Currie, Nicholas Daniel, Mark Van de Wiel, Paul Silverthorne, Dudok Kwartet, and The Absolution Saxophone Quartet amongst others. Emma-Ruth’s music has been performed on the international stage, taking her to Hong Kong, Den Haag, Banff, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. She is a Royal Northern Gold Medal composer and has featured in festivals including Presteigne, Aldeburgh, Music of Today Southbank, Sounds New Canterbury, Internationaal Kamermuziekfestival Den Haag, Sound Scotland, Queen’s Belfast, North West, and the St. Magnus Festival.

Emma-Ruth read music at Cardiff University and then completed her PhD at the Royal Northern College of Music. She has since worked with composers such as Alexander Goehr, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews.