Richard Link
Encyclopedia
Richard Link is a Canadian composer
, musical director, teacher, and performer living in London. An accomplished pianist, he often music directs, conducts, and plays for his own productions.
, Alberta, where he attended the University of Alberta
and graduated with a bachelor of music degree. He worked professionally in Edmonton as a composer, musical director, and teacher until 1996 when he moved to San Francisco,California. He studied kinesiology
and taught musical theatre at San Francisco State University
.
He attended John F. Kennedy University
where he completed a masters degree in Holistic Health Education. In his masters thesis Art as a Spiritual Practice, he developed a new methodology for teaching performing arts. His thesis asserts that honoring the individual—and focusing on the process, not the product—creates the best possible performance, and ironically, the best end product.
In 2006 Link moved to London, where continues to compose, teach, music direct, and perform.
His musical theatre works include 15 one- and two-act musicals, plus music for plays and incidental music. Musicals include A Little Princess
, Alberto the Dancing Alligator, Dream World, Gideon's Dream, The Painter's Dream, and Watch Me Shine. Three of his musicals were written for Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose as part of their "Theater as Digital Activity (TADA)" program.
Link has written an extensive body of choral music, both secular and sacred
. Secular works include three choral works, Songs for Us, Woven Together, and Four Seasons, all for SATB
mixed chorus. He's also written song cycles and art songs, mostly for one or two voices and piano, and has set three of Vikram Seth
's poems to music. His sacred music compositions include anthems and liturgical music
.
Link has also crafted popular music. Link teamed with Niall Vignoles, co-writing and playing on all songs on the full-length CD "Hard As Nails".
for outstanding composition and design. http://www.sterlingawards.com
Winner, 1992/1993 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for outstanding musical direction.
Nominee, 1990/1991 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for outstanding musical direction.
Children's Musical Theater San Jose
Elizabeth Haynes Sterling Awards
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, musical director, teacher, and performer living in London. An accomplished pianist, he often music directs, conducts, and plays for his own productions.
Personal history and education
Link was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. After graduating from high school, he moved to EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta, where he attended the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and graduated with a bachelor of music degree. He worked professionally in Edmonton as a composer, musical director, and teacher until 1996 when he moved to San Francisco,California. He studied kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
and taught musical theatre at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.
He attended John F. Kennedy University
John F. Kennedy University
John F. Kennedy University is a nonprofit, private university located in Pleasant Hill, California, with satellite campuses in Campbell, Berkeley, and Costa Mesa. It was founded in 1964 to focus on providing continuing opportunities for non-traditional higher education. Enrollment is approximately...
where he completed a masters degree in Holistic Health Education. In his masters thesis Art as a Spiritual Practice, he developed a new methodology for teaching performing arts. His thesis asserts that honoring the individual—and focusing on the process, not the product—creates the best possible performance, and ironically, the best end product.
In 2006 Link moved to London, where continues to compose, teach, music direct, and perform.
Compositions
The majority of Link's compositions are musical theatre and choral works, and he has also scored music for film, video, television, and dance.His musical theatre works include 15 one- and two-act musicals, plus music for plays and incidental music. Musicals include A Little Princess
A Little Princess
A Little Princess is a 1905 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a revised and expanded version of Burnett's 1888 serialized novel entitled Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's Boarding School, which was published in St. Nicholas Magazine.According to Burnett, she...
, Alberto the Dancing Alligator, Dream World, Gideon's Dream, The Painter's Dream, and Watch Me Shine. Three of his musicals were written for Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose as part of their "Theater as Digital Activity (TADA)" program.
Link has written an extensive body of choral music, both secular and sacred
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
. Secular works include three choral works, Songs for Us, Woven Together, and Four Seasons, all for SATB
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
mixed chorus. He's also written song cycles and art songs, mostly for one or two voices and piano, and has set three of Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth is an Indian poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children's writer, biographer and memoirist.-Early life:Vikram Seth was born on 20 June 1952 to Leila and Prem Seth in Calcutta...
's poems to music. His sacred music compositions include anthems and liturgical music
Liturgical music
Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service , the Lutheran Divine Service, the Orthodox liturgy and other Christian services...
.
Link has also crafted popular music. Link teamed with Niall Vignoles, co-writing and playing on all songs on the full-length CD "Hard As Nails".
Musical direction
Link has directed over 100 shows, from well known shows by contemporary composers to obscure musical theatre pieces. His direction credits are fairly evenly distributed between professional theatre companies, high schools and colleges, fringe theatre, community theatre, and summer stock.Awards
Winner, 1994/1995 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes AwardElizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award is a local Edmonton, Alberta award presented annually which honours excellence in theatre...
for outstanding composition and design. http://www.sterlingawards.com
Winner, 1992/1993 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for outstanding musical direction.
Nominee, 1990/1991 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for outstanding musical direction.
Sources and External links
Official siteChildren's Musical Theater San Jose
Elizabeth Haynes Sterling Awards