As well as being an award-winning composer, Richard Charlton works as a teacher, conductor, performer, and arranger. Born in the United Kingdom, he is a resident of Sydney, Australia. Largely self-taught, he initially started writing music to expand his own repertoire, but now his works are performed and recorded by many leading Australian and international players, featured on more than 30 commercial CDs on labels such as ABC Classics, Naxos, Tall Poppies, Artworks, Ethnoclassics, and Move Records. Many of Richard’s works appear in the current Australian Music Examination Board’s syllabus.

Principally known for his guitar music, a 2005 review in the U.K. magazine Classical Guitar described him as “producing some of the most inspired and accessible guitar works of the present era.” Richard was awarded Instrumental Work of the Year at the 2004 APRA/AMC Classical Music Awards, and in 2022 he won the Matt Withers Australian Composition Prize.

Charlton was Director of Music Performance for nearly twenty years at Ascham School in Sydney, where he composed and arranged music for all ages. Highly sought after as an arranger, he has also worked for the Brisbane City Council, arranged music for large outdoor Christmas pageants on three occasions, arranged music for the Education Department in Sydney, and collaborated on four vocal CDs by well-known Australian singer Katie Noonan.

Mr. Charlton is represented worldwide by the Australian Music Centre. To learn more visit www.australianmusiccentre.com.au and www.richardcharlton.com.au.