LAURA RICKARD
Violinist
Praised for her “playing of remarkable intensity and expressive freedom” (Seen and Heard International), British violinist Laura Rickard has established a multifaceted international career as a soloist, chamber musician, festival director and passionate teacher. Her performances have taken her to the Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She has toured extensively across Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexico and the USA, and her performances have been featured on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and NBC. She was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2022 in recognition of her significant contribution to the music profession.
Recent solo highlights have included directing a cycle of the Mozart Violin Concertos from the violin and performing Vasks Lonely Angel at HearAndNow Festival. A passionate advocate of music of our time, she has collaborated closely with composers including Martin Butler, Cydonie Banting, Robert Peate and Michael Zev Gordon.
Laura is a founding member of the Mila Piano Trio and the Goethe String Quartet, with whom she performs extensively in the UK and internationally. Recent highlights have included residencies at Yellow Barn, Vermont and the Presteigne Festival, alongside premieres of music by Eleanor Alberga, Reinaldo Moya, Eun-young Lee and William Cooper.
In 2018 Laura founded Romsey Chamber Music Festival, which she continues to lead as Artistic Director. Based in her home town of Romsey, the festival has developed into an ambitious annual celebration of chamber music and new work, bringing internationally acclaimed artists to Hampshire. Classical Source has described it as “one of Europe’s most distinguished small festivals”, while Seen and Heard International wrote that the festival has “evolved into something that breaks barriers and reaches for the sky”. Alongside its concert programme, the festival runs an extensive education and Young Artists Programme, offering emerging chamber musicians professional coaching, performance opportunities and mentoring, while its education programme reaches more than 1,500 children each year through workshops and performances in schools across Hampshire. "The atmosphere of camaraderie and joie de vivre has characterized the festival since its inception in 2018" - The Hampshire Chronicle. For more information about RCMF please visit www.romseychambermusic.com
In demand as a pedagogue, Laura is delighted to take up the position of Professor of Violin and Deputy Head of Strings at the Royal College of Music, following previous positions at the Royal Academy of Music and King’s College London. She has given masterclasses worldwide and coached chamber music at the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein, and is on the faculty of Cadenza International Summer Music School.
Laura studied at St John’s College, Cambridge before moving to the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied with Erich Gruenberg, Remus Azoitei and Alex Redington. She was awarded an honorary DipRAM as well as the Doris Faulkner Prize for her outstanding studentship.
Laura plays on a fine violin by Gennaro Gagliano from the 1730s.
ROMSEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Described by Classical Source as a "little gem" and hailed by Seen and Heard International as "remarkable", Laura founded the Romsey Chamber Music Festival in 2018. RCMF brings together some of the world's leading chamber musicians in concerts featuring an imaginatively curated and diverse programme of chamber music. It has an ambitious education programme which has reached over 3000 children in Hampshire which covers first access in primary schools, coaching young musicians, side-by-side projects and masterclasses. Other activities include regular residencies and concerts, and commissions of new works by composers. "The atmosphere of camaraderie and joie de vivre has characterized the festival since its inception in 2018" - The Hampshire Chronicle. For more information about RCMF please visit www.romseychambermusic.com
GOETHE STRING QUARTET
Praised for their “playing of such passion and authority” (Classical Source), the Goethe String Quartet is quickly emerging as one of Europe’s most exciting string quartets. The quartet is comprised of Luke Hsu and Laura Rickard, violins; Marthe Husum, viola; and Rainer Crosett, cello. The GSQ has appeared at festivals in the UK, US, and Europe over the past several years, performing a wide range of works from Haydn to Berg and contemporary music. Most recently, they were Artists-in-Residence at Yellow Barn in Putney, Vermont (US), focusing on Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 132 and three commissioned works written for them by celebrated composers Eun Young Lee, William Cooper, and Reinaldo Moya. Their 2025 American tour included debut performances at Yellow Barn and in the Boston area, at the Wayland Concert Series and Wellesley Chamber Music. Other recent highlights include their recent Presteigne Festival debut included the world-premiere of Eleanor Alberga Glimpses, Glances as well as highly acclaimed performances of Adès, Beethoven and Schubert. The 26/27 season sees the quartet return to the US, Switzerland and the UK.
The quartet has also appeared at the HearAndNow Festival Amsterdam 2024, performing Berg Op. 3 live on the Netherlands’ NTR Radio 4, and in the Bartok Salon Amsterdam 2023 performing Bartok String Quartet No. 3. They have collaborated with artists such as Donald Weilerstein, Doric String Quartet, Kim Kashkashian, Laurence Lesser, Parker String Quartet, Miro Quartet, Levon Chilingirian, Anthony Marwood, Roger Tapping, Gunther Pichler, and Paul Katz. Individually, they have also received international recognition and prizes such as: Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition 2019 (Laureate), Pierre Fournier Award 2018 (Winner), Isaacs and Pirini Competition (First Prize), Verão Clássico Chamber Music Competition (First Prize), and Associateships of the Royal Academy of Music.
MILA PIANO TRIO
The Mila Piano Trio is a UK-based ensemble who met whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music in 2015. Recent performances have included debuts at St. John’s Smith Square and at St Martin-in-the-Fields, festivals including the Buxton International Festival, Islington Arts Festival and performances across the UK and Europe. The trio won first prize at Verao Classico in Lisbon and prizewinners in the Isaacs and Pirani Competition.
The Mila Piano Trio is also involved in educational work, recently working with Water City Music giving workshops and concerts to students in Southwark as well as working in schools in London, Cotswolds, Winchester and Romsey.
Graduates of The Royal Academy of Music, their chamber music tutors have included Amandine Savary, Levon Chilingirian, Michael Bochman and Felix Schmidt and have received masterclasses from Guy Johnston and Sun-Won Yang and Alasdair Beatson. The Mila Piano Trio studied at ChamberStudio at Kings Place where they were mentored by Adrian Brendel.
TEACHING
Laura is delighted to be joining the Royal College of Music where she has been appointed as Professor of Violin and Deputy Head of Strings. She has previously held teaching positions at the Royal Academy of Music and King's College, London. She is regularly invited to give masterclasses around the world, at leading conservatoires, universities and schools. She has recently guest taught at the University of Cambridge and is on the faculty of Cadenza International Summer School. Recent student successes include winning positions in leading professional orchestras across the world, full entrance scholarships to conservatoires in the UK and USA and places in the National Youth and Children’s Orchestras.
In her approach to violin instruction, Laura Rickard emphasizes a personalized and empathetic connection with her students. By tailoring her teaching methods to each student's unique needs and learning style, Laura ensures that they develop not only technical proficiency but also a deep understanding and appreciation for music. Through patient guidance and constructive feedback, she inspires her students to overcome challenges and reach their full potential as musicians. Committed to instilling a lifelong passion for music, Laura strives to cultivate not just skilled performers, but also thoughtful, creative musicians who contribute meaningfully to the world of music. She holds the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) with distinction for Violin Teaching.
For further information and teaching enquiries please use the Contact form.
