Richard Watkins
Richard Watkins (born 1962) is a horn player. He performs as a concerto soloist and chamber music player. He was Principal Horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1985 to 1996,[1] a position he relinquished to devote more time to his solo career.
He has appeared as soloist in the
His recordings include
Richard Watkins is closely associated with promoting contemporary music for horn; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies wrote 'Sea Eagle' (solo horn) for him in 1983 and since then, Richard Watkins has given the world premiere of David Matthews' 'Capriccio' in a concert at the Wigmore Hall to commemorate Dennis Brain's 70th Anniversary and Nigel Osborne's 'The Sun of Venice' with the Philharmonia. Further projects included the premiere of Colin Matthews' Horn Concerto with Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Royal Festival Hall during the 2001 season and a Horn Concerto by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.[2] He recorded Michael Nyman's music for La Sept with the Michael Nyman Band in 1989. In June 2007, he was horn soloist in the first performance of Matthew King's epic forest piece, King's Wood Symphony.
Richard Watkins is in great demand for master classes both in the UK and abroad.[3] At present he is a guest teacher in the Royal College of Music and he is holder of the Dennis Brain Chair in the Royal Academy of Music.
He has two sons named Alexei and Louis. Alexei currently attends the Royal Academy of Music studying the horn. Louis is currently reading Music at St John's College, Cambridge and is also a Choral Scholar in the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge.