Profiles

Richard Craig was born in Glasgow and studied flute at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with Richard Blake and Sheena Gordon. Graduating in 2003 with a degree and solo diploma, he continued his studies (supported by the Scottish International Educational Trust and a Dewar Arts award) at the Conservatoire National de Region Strasbourg with Mario Caroli and Claire Gentilhomme. In 2006 he received a diplôme de spécialisation from the CNR de Strasbourg, achieving ‘unanimité du jury’. During this time Richard also received guidance from Pierre-Yves Artaud. He now has a burgeoning international career performing with many of the world's finest groups and musicians.

Changing our perception of the flute and working with the so-called 'limitations' of the instrument is at the centre of his work: ultimately to extend the expressive vocabulary of the instrument. As a result Richard has quietly risen to be one of the most important interpreters in his generation, singularised by his unflinching approach to programming and performance. His activity as a soloist, chamber musician and lecturer has brought him into contact with composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, James Dillon, Salvatore Sciarrino, Kaija Saariaho, Richard Barrett, Helmut Lachenmann and musicians such as Emilio Pomarico, Enno Poppe, Stefan Asbury, Pierre-Yves Artaud, Roberto Fabbriciani and Rohan de Saram. He also maintains close contact with groups such as musikFabrik Cologne, KammarensembleN Stockholm and is a regular member of C.C.P and SMASH. Richard has given broadcasts throughout Europe with WDR Cologne, YLE Finland, Radio France, Radio Nacional de España and Swedish Radio.

Richard is also a laureate of numerous international competitions: Grand Prix and a Primo Speciale (for his performance of works by Sciarrino) from the XIth and XIIth L’Accademia Concordia Concorso Internazionale di Interpretazione di Musica Contemporanea, Italy and ‘prix du jury’ from the XIVth Penderecki international chamber music competition, Poland.

As a pedagogue he has given classes and workshops to musicians around the world (Columbia University, New York, CNR Strasbourg, France, Cork University, Ireland, Leeds University, Aberdeen University, Huddersfield and Napier University Edinburgh), an activity that he sees as vital to the music of our time. As of 2010, Richard will be Visiting Lecturer in Performance at the University of Aberdeen.