Richard McMahon

Richard McMahon studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Gordon Green and in Paris with Vlado Perlemuter. The latter having studied with Ravel, Richard drew on this experience to make a special study of this repertoire as well as the other French masters, and Chopin.

Richard’s solo career began at this time, marked by successful London debuts and followed by concerts throughout the UK. His many BBC solo recordings ranged through a wide repertoire including many rarities and first performances as well as mainstream repertoire.

Whilst a student he had established a piano duo with Anne Shasby, which found immediate success after Wigmore Hall and South Bank appearances featuring Stravinsky’s formidable arrangement of `Le Sacre du Printemps`. Concerts throughout the UK and innumerable broadcasts followed for well over a decade and included television appearances, Promenade concerts, appearances at all the major London venues, throughout the UK and overseas. In this time they performed and recorded almost the entire repertoire for two pianists.

Since the 1980s, Richard has also partnered the prodigious pianist and recording artist, Martin Jones. Their two piano partnerships in the works of Percy Grainger and the complete Rachmaninoff were acclaimed upon release, as was Richard’s solo recording of the complete Chabrier. He also regularly partners the violinist James Clark, Concertmaster of the Philharmonia, giving recitals for BBC Radio 3 as well as performances throughout the UK.

Richard has lived in Cardiff since 1975 and took up his present post at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1996. He is the musical advisor and chair of the jury for the Newport International Piano Competition and his teaching life outside RWCMD has now taken on an international dimension involving him in examining, moderating and adjudicating as well as giving masterclasses throughout the UK and overseas. He is a regular visitor to the Far East, especially Singapore.