About

Richard is a 25-year-old vision-impaired jazz pianist and student currently completing his final year at the Jazz Music Institute in Brisbane. Raised in Perth, his passion for music began early, starting classical piano at the age of three. He developed his foundational technique through the Suzuki Piano School method, which shaped his early musical voice and discipline.

A defining moment in Richard’s musical journey came in 2012, when at age 11 he attended the National Braille Music Camp. There, he refined his Braille music reading skills, performed regularly, and—most importantly—found a community of like-minded peers. The camp proved transformative, showing him that a blind or vision-impaired musician could pursue a professional career in music. This realisation became a powerful source of motivation that continues to guide his path.

With this goal in mind, Richard went on to complete a Bachelor of Classical Music Performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), studying under Ukrainian pianist and pedagogue Anna Sleptsova. During this time, he performed at a range of notable Perth venues including The Ellington Jazz Club, The Octagon Theatre, and the Richard Gill Auditorium. He was also actively involved with disability music organisations, performing at events such as the National Disability Breakfast and fundraisers for VisAbility and Senses Australia, spanning genres from classical to pop and rock.

Throughout his university years, Richard regularly performed at aged-care facilities across the Perth metropolitan area. These performances were driven not only by a desire to build experience, but by a genuine commitment to sharing music and joy with older members of the community.

Richard’s interest in jazz began to flourish at WAAPA, where he explored the music of Bill Evans, George Gershwin, and the rich Latin and salsa traditions of Cuba, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Artists such as Pedro Justiz “Peruchín” and Cachao left a lasting impression, followed by the discovery of Brazilian bossa nova through Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto. These influences ultimately led him to pursue jazz full-time, prompting his move to Brisbane in 2023 to study under award-winning jazz pianist and educator Paula Girvan.

Since relocating, Richard has flourished within Brisbane’s vibrant jazz scene, performing at venues including QPAC, Can You Keep A Secret?, The Burrow, The Bearded Lady, and the Brisbane Jazz Club. His playing draws from a wide range of influences, from jazz greats such as Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, and his long-time hero Bill Evans, to leading contemporary artists including Emmet Cohen, Herbie Hancock, Bill Charlap, Jeff Usher, and Eliane Elias.

The result is a nuanced and creative pianistic voice marked by harmonic and rhythmic sophistication, a deep groove sensibility, and an unmistakable sense of humour. With a particular affinity for bossa nova, Richard’s playing often reflects the gentle lyricism of Jobim alongside the driving energy of Latin montuno and the swing traditions of modern jazz.

Looking ahead, Richard is committed to continuing to push artistic and professional boundaries, forging a career defined by musical excellence, resilience, and a determination to expand what is possible for vision-impaired artists in today’s music industry.