Richard Scholfield is an award-winning Scottish saxophonist praised for his “silken” sound (The Scotsman) and thoughtful programming. He forges a deep connection with audiences through his characterful playing and careful presentation, drawing them into the world of the saxophone as he explores both its storied past and bright future.
Alongside his desire to showcase the saxophone’s diverse and often underappreciated repertoire, Richard is a skilled arranger and transcriber, always looking for new opportunities to explore the capabilities of his instrument. He has created a wide range of solo and chamber transcriptions by composers such as J.S. Bach, Olivier Messiaen, Antonin Dvorak and Amy Beach, as well as re-interpretations of original saxophone works such as new arrangements of Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto and William Grant Still’s Romance for saxophone and string quartet.
Richard earned the second prize in the 2022 Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition at Mayfield Festival, and was also awarded a distinction in the 2021 Tunbridge Wells Competition. He has performed concerti with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Wind Orchestra and the Kelvin Ensemble. Richard has also performed as an orchestral musician with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of Scottish Opera and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
Iain Clarke, 25 and originally from the Isle of Arran in Scotland, has just completed his studies on the Artist Diploma course at the Royal College of Music in London, specialising in collaborative piano and studying with Simon Lepper, Nigel Clayton, Kathron Sturrock and Danny Driver.
In 2015, Iain won first prize in the UK and Ireland final of the Rotary Young Musician competition, and was awarded three top prizes during his time at RCS, including 1st prize in their chamber music competition.
He has performed extensively across the UK in venues such as Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, Usher Hall and Glasgow City Halls, including with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on Celesta. Recent highlights include recital performances at Bloomsbury Festival, Cromer Music Evenings, and Barnes Music Society with repertoire including Rachmaninoff’s Cello and Piano Sonata and Strauss’s Violin Sonata. Recent orchestral highlights include original Williams Harry Potter score with the RCM Philharmonic and Ben Palmer, Hindemith’s Kammermusik No. 1, and Jonathan Dove’s opera Flight. In July 2022 he performed in Austria with the Grafenegg Orchestral Academy, and from September will be returning to the RCM as their Collaborative Piano Fellow for the Wind, Brass and Percussion departments.
Programme
Gabriel Pierne (transc. R. Scholfield) – Canzonetta
Frederic Chopin (transc. R. Scholfield) – Five Polish Songs
i. My Darling
ii. Melody
iii. The Maiden’s Wish
iv. Out of my Sight!
v. Lithuanian Song
Amy Beach (transc. R. Scholfield) – Romance, Op. 23
George Gershwin (arr. J. Blum) – Someone to Watch Over Me
Takashi Yoshimatsu – Fuzzy Bird Sonata
i. Run, Bird
ii. Sing, Bird
iii. Fly, Bird
Olivier Messiaen (transc. R. Scholfield) – Vocalise-Étude
Performers
Richard Scholfield Saxophone
Iain Clarke Piano
City Music Foundation Artists