Richard Stoker
Biography
Richard Stoker is a composer, conductor, pianist, author, painter and poet. He studied privately with Eric Fenby, Arthur Benjamin and Benjamin Britten, then with Lennox Berkely at the Royal Academy of Music, London. In 1962 as the Mendelssohn Scholar he studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. From spring 1963 he was professor of composition and tutor at the Royal Academy of Music.
As well as numerous compositions, many of which have been broadcast by the BBC and abroad, Richard has written two novels, a volume of collected short stories, two volumes of autobiography, plays, three books of poetry and he has also exhibited paintings. He is a committee member and treasurer of the RAM Guild, a member of the concert committee of the British Academy and in 1996 was elected a full member of Pen and International Pen and the RSL. He also edited Composer magazine from 1969-1980.
Besides adjudicating the major composition awards, he adjudicated the Orchestral Composers Award for the Ministry of Culture, Cyprus in 2001. He also sits on the Gold Badge Awards committee.
He was commissioned by the New Dictionary of Biography to write seven entries, all of which were accepted by OUP. He has written well over twelve works used by the Associated Board.
November 8 2003 marks Richard’s 65th birthday.