Richard Muncey studied at the Royal College of music with Bernard Shore. Whilst there, he won the major viola prize and became a founder member of the Guadagnini Quartet. They had residencies at Lancaster University and Banff Summer school in Canada. They toured and broadcast worldwide, winning several international prizes.
Richard was for a short time associate principal viola with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1985, he left to freelance.
He became the principal viola with the Northern Chamber Orchestra and EOEO (latterly Sinfonia Viva). He has appeared as a principal with many of Britain’s orchestras including the Halle, CBSO, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Ulster Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and The City of London Sinfonia. He was also was invited as principal for a short season with the orchestra of Bologna Opera.
He and four Manchester friends formed the Music Group of Manchester which promoted five seasons of concerts at the RNCM to great critical acclaim. They toured at home and abroad and released a CD.
With Robert Glenton he formed The Orchestra of the Golden Age, a period instrument group. They made several CDs and appeared throughout Britain and the rest of Europe.
For the last few years he’s concentrated all his musical energies into the Tedesca Quartet.
He plays on a very fine instrument which is unnamed and its provenance confounds all the string instrument experts.
