Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas is a Natural Trumpet professor at the Historical Performance faculty of the Royal College of Music in London. He also teaches at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and regularly instructs at the Dartington International Summer School.

Professor Thomas specializes in historical performance practice with period instruments. His expertise includes:

• Natural Trumpet performance
• Cornetto performance
• Renaissance and Baroque brass repertoire
• Historically informed performance techniques
• Early wind ensemble performance

Thomas studied at the University of Wales, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Schola Cantorum in Switzerland, earning BMus, MA, LRAM, and ARAM qualifications. His career combines scholarly knowledge with practical performance experience spanning several decades.

He has performed regularly at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and toured extensively throughout Europe, North & South America, Asia, and Australia with ensembles led by distinguished conductors including Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Trevor Pinnock, Harry Christophers, and Paul McCreesh.

Thomas is the founder of several notable ensembles:

• QuintEssential (sackbut and cornett ensemble, formed in 1993)
• The City Musick
• The Prince Regent's Band (19th century saxhorn quintet)