Richard Ireland

Richard Ireland was a member of the Chilingirian Quartet, one of the world’s most celebrated and widely travelled ensembles.  The quartet is renowned for its interpretations of the great quartets, but also its commanding performances of the contemporary repertoire.  With the quartet, Richard performed in many of the major concert halls and important festivals worldwide.

London-born into a family of string quartet players (his father was in the Allegri Quartet, and his brother Robin in the Lindsays), Richard studied with Eli Goren and Shmuel Ashkenasi, both eminent quartet leaders. 

Richard was Teaching Assistant to Shmuel Ashkenasi in the USA for three years.  On return to the UK he was professor of violin and chamber music at the Royal Northern College of Music for thirteen years, and taught chamber music at the Royal College of Music where the Chilingirian Quartet is resident ensemble.  He is much sought after as a chamber music coach and teacher and is regularly invited to give masterclasses at the specialist schools and music colleges in the UK as well as abroad.

He has been invited as a jury member for award bodies such as the Musicians Benevolent Fund and for international competitions such as the upcoming Franz Schubert and Modern Music competition in Graz 2012.

Richard is a keen pure mathematician and has a first class honours degree in the subject which he gained as a mature student with the Open University.

In 2010 Richard created and is now Artistic Director of a unique new scheme for supporting outstanding up-and-coming chamber groups in the UK at the fragile early stages of their careers when they are no longer under the protective wing of a conservatoire.  ChamberStudio www.chamberstudio.org which is based at Kings Place in London provides subsidised masterclasses given by many of the most renowned and experienced chamber musicians from Europe and beyond.  There are now over thirty ensembles signed up to the scheme which runs every week between October and May.