Richard Marshall

Having been brought up in a brass banding family, Richard began playing the cornet at the age of nine and was taught by Mr. Ken Johnson. He saw Richard’s potential and asked him to play third cornet with the Hatfield Band, where Richard progressed through the cornet ranks and became Principal Cornet at the age of just 11!.

Richard is currently Principal Cornet of the Black Dyke Band, a position that is heralded as the “hottest seat in banding.” Previously Principal Cornet for ten years with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Richard fulfilled his childhood ambition and followed in the footsteps of some of his cornet heroes and moved to Black Dyke in January 2006.

To do justice to Richard’s playing accomplishments is difficult but quoted at the Black Dyke Brass Arts Festival, the internationally acclaimed maestro Elgar Howarth described Richard as “the most outstanding cornet player this country has ever produced.”

Not only a player, Richard is also a respected and devoted teacher. He is a cornet tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.  He is a regular tutor on the International Brass Band Summer School, the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band.

Richard has released six solo recordings. The Debutante (1999), Blaze (2005), Eminence (2007), The Cornet Heritage Collection Volume 1 (2010), Volume 2 (2013) and Sonatina (2020) all of which have been received with world-wide acclaim, with Blaze, Eminence and Sonatina being awarded the title Solo CD of the Year.

Richard enjoys working alongside renowned composers to create new and exciting repertoire. Elgar Howarth’s Sonatina (2008) and Edward Gregson’s Cornet Concerto (2016) are two major works that were written for and dedicated to Richard. Essentials, written by Philip Wilby and in collaboration with Richard are Brass Studies for the Twenty First Century. This study book contains a number of advanced studies designed to be technically challenging for advanced players.

As a performer Richard has travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, America and several European countries. He has performed in many iconic concert venues such as Sydney Opera House and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

In association with Alliance Products, the Richard Marshall (RM) Signature Range of Mouthpieces was shortlisted for the Trusted Music Stores Product Awards (Brass and Woodwind Category) in 2016. Richard is a Geneva Performance and Development Artist and performs exclusively on the Oldroyd Cardinal Cornet and RM1 Signature Mouthpiece.

Whilst music, performing and teaching are such an important part of Richard’s life, he has also been blessed with a fantastic loving family and really enjoys spending time with his wife Becca and their two daughters Bella & Esme.