Richard Crabtree  ARCM

Richard sustains a well-balanced and forward-looking musical career that reflects the interdisciplinary demands of the 21st-century musician. Since 1983, he has held the post of Professor of Viola at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where his pedagogical practice has remained his central professional commitment. His teaching continues to evolve in scope and depth, informed by extensive experience and ongoing engagement with contemporary developments in performance and music education.

His violin and viola students regularly secure positions in Junior and Senior National Youth Orchestras throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe. A substantial number of his advanced pupils have subsequently distinguished themselves through national competition awards, the receipt of scholarships to leading specialist music schools, music conservatoires and the attainment of professional appointments in major orchestras both within the UK and internationally.

From 2007 to 2025 he collaborated with LMFL where he played a pioneereing role in the development and delivery of online pedagogy, providing instruction to students across ffive continents. In addition to his work in virtual education, he has presented masterclasses and performed internationally, with engagements in China, Korea, Turkmenistan, France, Italy, Spain, and the USA.

Richard studied violin and viola with his mentor Nicholas Roth at Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban). Early in his career, he worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players. As a principal violist and soloist, he has appeared with the London Soloists Ensemble, Wessex Sinfonia, Clifton Virtuosi, and the English National Baroque Orchestra. In 1989, he made his BBC Radio 3 solo recital debut and has since recorded numerous solo soundtracks for radio and television.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Richard has premiered works by Leonard Salzedo, Ellis Pehkonen, Chris Toon, Chari Numerov, John Marsh, Sarah Class, Martin Pring, and William Godfree, helping expand the modern viola repertoire. His commitment to new music led to performances for the British Council and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture at the Makhtumkuli Festival, where his concerts were broadcast nationwide—making him the first British musician to perform there since Glasnost.

In addition to performing and teaching, Richard has contributed to music education resources. In 2011, he published The Crabbers Scale Manual for violin, viola, and cello—a unique system using letters and numbers to help students of all ages and abilities build confidence in scale practice