(photo by David Stothard)

Richard Ingham has had an extensive career as a performer, composer and educator. He has given solo saxophone recitals and chamber concerts throughout the world, and has presented many premières.

Numerous works have been written for him, and he has given many première performances. He was the first UK performer on the WX7 (wind synthesizer). He was a member of the Northern Saxophone Quartet for 26 years, and has also been a member of the Tribune Saxophone Octet, the Scottish Saxophone Ensemble and the Red Note Ensemble. He is a currently a member of Strangeness & Charm, Trio Verso, and the Auricle Ensemble. He has worked with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra, Opera North and at the Royal National Theatre. In 2012 Richard directed the acclaimed XVI World Saxophone Congress in St Andrews, Scotland.

Richard conducted the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain for several years, including tours to the Czech Republic, China and Thailand. His direction of Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool suite drew a 5* review from The Herald. Richard was the editor and contributing author of the Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone (Cambridge University Press, 1999), widely regarded as the leading book on the subject.

Broadcasts have included BBC recitals, contributor to BBC R4 The Devil’s Horn and Pick of the Week, ABC Radio National (Australia) The History Listen, forthcoming BBC Alba documentary on The Book of Deer.

Richard Ingham’s compositions have received many performances throughout the world. He has written for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments and voices. His music ranges from contemporary classical to jazz and jazz-folk fusion and sometimes incorporates spoken word e.g. when working with Alexander McCall Smith, the late Brian Johnstone, and Chrys Salt (all of whom have strong Scottish connections).

Richard's compositions include:

• Mrs. Malcolm, Her Reel (Funky Freuchie)

  for jazz ensemble, for saxophone ensemble
  live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM5qptvbHVI
  album track - https://soundcloud.com/mcksax/mrs-malcolm-richard-ingham

• Peter and the RTO

  , in collaboration with Alexander McCall Smith, for narrator and orchestra

• From Pennan to Penang suite

  (11 movements), for saxophone and accordion
  live - "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5xghCpPUpQ
  album - https://soundcloud.com/mary-mccarthy-piano/st-patrick-prays-for-peace-in

• Concerto for Saxophone, Accordion, Strings and Percussion

• Nine Pieces for Five Players

  for wind quintet, for saxophone quintet
  album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5xG61xo1sk
  
  'Ingham has created nine musical gems, each of them characterful and memorable, ...... overall, 25 minutes of sheer ‘wind-quintet bliss’. The readability of the score and the individual parts is exemplary.'
  (Tony Halstead, horn virtuoso).

• Through a Landscape

  for saxophone quartet (album iTunes and Spotify - Scottish Saxophone Ensemble)

• Drift o’ Rain on Moorland Stane

  (poems by Marion Angus, for reader and chamber ensemble)
  'In the sea scale grandness o' St Andrews Parliament Ha', a warld premiere wis harden o' Drift o Rain on Moorland Stane
  As the music swee’d “in an aroond” the poems, the souch changed tae chime wi the souch o' the words. This reinged frae the discordant for The Stranger; strang, sudden even soonds like the pangs o' emotion of Jealousy; slaw waltzing an chirruping for the wistfu', ironic view o' Spring’s comin in Turn of the Day an' the repeatin', triumphant blawin' o “the hindmaist trumpet’s blast” in The Lane Kirkyaird. The unique organ wis highly chairged. The effeck on the appreciative audience wis amazin', movin' some tae tears. There’s ettles tae record the piece.’ (Scots Tung Wittins)

• Taj Mahal

  for saxophone choir
  
  'Richard Ingham's Taj Mahal is a meditative movement incorporating harmonic, melodic and rhythmic elements of Indian music…. . High pitched pianissimo chords created an ethereal ending, shimmering and heat hazy like the building itself.'
  (Clarinet and Saxophone)

• Nature Morte au Panier

  for solo viola (premiered by Michael Kugel)

• Night Invaded the Heavens

  for 15 violas

• Robinson

  , in collaboration with Brian Johnstone, suite for readers, two jazz soloists, jazz orchestra.
  
  'A pulsating pulpy tale for a 20-piece jazz orchestra, narrators and soloists ...... an evocative and eye-opening spectacle.’
  The Scotsman (4*)

• Walking the Cowgate

  for saxophone quartet (album iTunes and Spotify - Scottish Saxophone Ensemble)

• Rhynie Man

  for solo French horn
  album - https://soundcloud.com/annadouglass/ingham-rhynie-man

• Traditions Old and New

  , Iona and Islay for small pipes, fiddle, accordion, bodhràn and saxophone ensemble
  live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uEncGAFTek

• Unpronounceable Two-Step

  , for jazz quintet
  album - https://soundcloud.com/largo-music/02-unpronounceable-two-step

• The Store of Sonic Toys

  , for saxophone and percussion
  album - https://soundcloud.com/user-433301461/the-store-of-sonic-toys

• Music for the Book of Deer

  , a twelve movement suite for saxophones, trumpet, keyboard, bass, and percussion celebrating the astonishing 10th century portable gospel book from Aberdeenshire.
  First performed by Strangeness & Charm in 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ignHr3D2PR8
  album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjFMav_N3jE
  
  'Music for the book of Deer is an unlikely amalgam of plainsong, electronica, jazz and folk music, it’s a heady brew and strangely alluring.’
  (Rock and Reel magazine)
  
  ‘Music for the Book of Deer - a great piece of work’
  (New Folk Sounds)
  
  '….Ingham’s diverse and eclectic writing…. (are) evocative and invigorating by turns.’
  (The Jazz Mann)'

• Fenella’s Jig

  , for saxophone octet, for Paris Conservatoire

• The Blue Lamp Suite

  , for six singers and jazz orchestra (album - Jazz at the Blue Lamp Community Big Band https://jazzatthebluelampcommunityjazzbigband.bandcamp.com/album/the-blue-lamp-suite)
  
  "I would highly recommend Richard Ingham as a composer to work with any ensemble."
  (Pauline Black, JATBL Community Jazz Big Band, Head of Music, University of Aberdeen)

• Skookum Jim and the American Dream

  , in collaboration with Chrys Salt and Ken Smyth
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQuw15dzWZc
  
  'From the opening music from wonderful composer Richard Ingram to the reading of Chrys Salt I knew this was quality'.
  (reviewer John Elliot)

• Winter Reflections

  , six improvisations for saxophone, bass clarinet, wind synthesiser
  (from 27:53) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc5HlllI6n0

• Hark Project

  
  movie soundtrack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER55ZdTLgwk&t=16s