London, England, United Kingdom
Richard Mayo was a chorister at St John's College, Cambridge under the direction of Dr George Guest. He was Organ Scholar Wells Cathedral and then at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge where he read Music specialising in the works of Janáček, Wagner and Bruckner. He studied the organ with Nicolas Kynaston, John Scott and Sir Stephen Cleobury and as a recitalist he has played many venues including Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, Coventry and Truro Cathedrals. Richard was appointed Director of Music at Dulwich College from September 2004. He conducts the College's Chapel Choir and Symphony Orchestra and leads a Department of 60 staff. The College's Music highlights include a tour to US in April 2017; a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem in the Royal Festival Hall in February 2018 together with musicians from Alleyn's and JAGS; a Service to celebrate the College's 400th anniversary of foundation in St Paul's Cathedral in June 2019. Richard conducted the College's first choral concert following the pandemic at Southwark Cathedral on 25 March 2022. This concert featured music by Handel, Vaughan Williams and Fauré celebrating the Platinum Jubilee and the 150th anniversary of Vaughan Williams' birth. He conducted Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius at Southwark Cathedral on 8 March 2024. Richard is also conductor of the English Heritage Orchestra and founding conductor of the Dulwich Chamber Choir. The Chamber Choir celebrated its 10 anniversary with a performance of Bach's Mass in B minor given in St James' Church, Piccadilly in October 2021. Richard is a music education consultant, conductor, organist and adjudicator and is always delighted to help and advise.
I lead and manage a Department of 60 staff in a College of nearly 2000 pupils. The Department offers a comprehensive Music education to the College's pupils and promotes around 200 music performance opportunities in an academic year. These broadly consist of recitals, concerts, competitions, masterclasses and Chapel Services and include a full range of musical styles. Composition is significant at Dulwich College and the Department has a 15 year association with the acclaimed British composer Cecilia McDowall. Cecilia has written three compositions for the College's choirs and instrumentalists.