Rick studied at the University of Birmingham and the Royal College of Music in London.

He has worked as a principal artist with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Glyndebourne, Music Theatre London, London Sinfonietta, English National Opera, Opera Factory, Richard Alston Dance Company, Second Stride and many others.

Career highlights include a Schumann lieder recital at the National Portrait Gallery in London for BBC Radio 3; Juan, in the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s opera Country of the Blind (50^th Aldeburgh Festival), Dad, in Turnage’s Greek (Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, UK tour and Cite de la Musique, Paris, Barbican, London – BBC Radio 3) and music for Rufus Norris’s production of Sleeping Beauty (Young Vic, Barbican and New Victory Theatre, Broadway).

As a composer, Rick has received commissions from The Young Vic Theatre Company, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Vienna Festival, South Bank Centre, Three Choirs Festival, State Opera of South Australia, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Festival of Arts and Ideas, Connecticut, USA.

Rick received his PhD from the University of South Australia, where he worked as a lecturer in music and drama from 2007 – 2015. He also taught at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide, before becoming a full-time member of staff at the Arts Academy in 2015.

Research areas

Rick’s research interests focus on music theatre composition and performance. In addition to his ongoing work as a professional composer, Rick has published articles on contemporary classical composers for the Rough Guide to Classical Music (Penguin) and his music for Rufus Norris’s Young Vic production of Sleeping Beauty is published by Nick Hearn Books. Recent works include The Last of England, a CD of solo piano music and preparations for a major performance of his composition Stari Most at St Martin’s in the Fields, London, sponsored by George Clooney and activist John Prendergast.

Visit Rick's website.