Richard Raymond is a music lover's dream. His playing is reminiscent of history's great pianists. Its depth, passion, virtuosity and individuality combine to set him apart from others of his generation.
Richard Raymond has won virtually every award there is to win in Canada: all the top prizes at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the "International Stepping Stone" of the Canadian Music Competition, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations Young Performer's Competition. In 1992 he was finally recognized on the international scene: He became only the second Canadian to win the prestigious Montreal International Competition triumphing over 49 contestants from 18 countries. Soon after, he won major prizes in the United States and in Europe: at the prestigious Van Cliburn Competition-the first award ever to go to a Canadian artist in this competition-as well as at the William Kapell and Vianna da Motta International Piano Competition. He is the recipient of the prestigious Virginia Parker Prize awarded by the Canada Council.

Raymond's performances with the Montreal Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, and essentially every major orchestra in Canada have been met with great excitement. Recitals, festival appearances and chamber music engagements have taken him across Canada, to Italy, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, China, Georgia, Germany, France and the United States. Debuts in such halls as the Lincoln Center in New York and the national recital hall in Taipei were all memorable events.

Richard Raymond has recorded five compact discs for the Analekta and Musica Viva labels. He was nominated for Best CD and Artist of the year at the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax, and at the OPUS Awards in Montreal. The Dallas Morning News gave his Chopin CD a special Grade A rating in May 2003. Richard Raymond’s newest CD, released on Analekta, features the fascinating Reubke Piano Sonata in B-flat minor and Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.21 (“Waldstein).

Raymond studied with Masters such as Leon Fleisher, Marc Durand, and John Perry. He took first prize in piano and chamber music at the "Conservatoire de Musique du Québec" in Montreal, has a Master's degree from the "Université de Montréal" and an Artist Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Raymond is currently Professor at the Conservatory of Music in Montreal.

Richard Raymond is one of those rare artists who employs his virtuosity to express the full spectrum of human emotions. His technical brilliance combined with an intense passion for music-making serves as a conduit through which he reaches the hearts and souls of listeners.

COMPETITION PRIZES

5th International Web Concert Hall Competition (2003)

-First Prize

Vianna da Motta International Piano Competition (Portugal) (1999)

-Silver Medal

William Kapell International Piano Competition (United States) (1998)

-Second Prize

9th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1993)

-Steven de Groote Award

23rd Montreal International Music Competition (1992)

-First Prize

26th Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Young Performers Competition (1991)

-Grand Prize
-First Prize
-Special Prize for the best performance of a Canadian work

International Stepping Stone Category of the Canadian Music Competition (1990)

-First Prize
-Special prize for best performance of Denis Gougeon’s unpublished work Soleil

Montreal Symphony Orchestra Piano Competition (1990)

-First Prize
-Special Prize for the best performance (Liszt’s B minor Sonata)

Scholarships and Awards

2001-2003	Bursary from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec
1998	Virginia Parker Prize for outstanding contribution to music, from the Canada Council
1997	Bursary for Career Development, from the Canada Council
1996	Bursary for Career Development, from the Canada Council
1995	Cécile Mesnard-Pomerleau Prize, from the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada
1995	Bursary for Career Development, from the Canada Council
1994	Bursary for Career Development, from the Canada Council
1994	Bursary, from the Touring Office of the Canada Council
1993	“B” Grant, from the Canada Council
1993	Scholarship, from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland
1992	“B” Grant, from the Canada Council
1992	Scholarship, from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland
1991	Bursary, from the Quebec Minister of Cultural Affairs
1991	Bursary, from the Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l’Aide a la Recherche (FCAR)
1991	Scholarship, from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music
1990	Scholarship, from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music
1990	Bursary, from the Orford Arts Center
1982	Scholarship, from the J. B. McAbbie Succession

Musical Education and Diplomas

1992-1994	Artist Diploma, with Leon Fleisher Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland Artist Diploma granted in 1994
1990-1992	Artist Diploma, with Marc Durand, John Perry and Leon Fleisher Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music Artist Diploma granted in 1992
1989-1991	Master’s Degree in Music, Piano Interpretation, with Marc Durand University of Montreal Master’s Degree in Music granted in 1991
1989	“Etudes Supérieures” Diploma Studies Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal
1987-1988	Chamber Music Studies with Yuli Turovsky, Walter Joachim, Lise Boucher and Marcel St.-Cyr            Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal Premier Prix (top honors) in Chamber Music granted in 1988
1978-1987	Piano studies with Lise Boucher        Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal Premier Prix (top honors) in Solo Piano granted in 1987
1979-1984	Private piano studies with Antoine Reboulot

Master Classes (as a participant)

1992	With Krystian Zimmermann Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music
1992	With John Browning Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music
1990	With Sontraud Spiedel University of Montreal
1989	With Ian Hobson During the Montreal International Piano Festival Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur
1987-1988	With the Orford Quartet Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal
1983	With Garrick Ohlsson Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal

AWARD NOMINATIONS

ADISQ (For CD Recording of Chopin Waltzes) (2002)

East Coast Music Award (for CD Recording of works by Liszt) (1998)

OPUS Prize, for Artist of the Year (1998)

MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Quebec Music Teachers’ Association, Inc. (2002- )

Member of the McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT) (2002- )

Member of the College Music Society (2002-)

Member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) (1989- )