Captain Richard Long BMus(Hons) MMus PG Dip LRSM LLCM Royal Marines

Richard Long was born and raised on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. He was introduced to music at an early age, his father being a euphonium player and his mother the conductor of Sheerness Salvation Army children's choir. By the age of 14 he was a keen member of the Kent Schools Symphonic Wind Band, performing at national events such as the Schools Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and in Belgium at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles.

In 1985 Richard joined the Royal Marines School of Music (RMSM) at Deal in Kent and on passing out some 2 years later was drafted to the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth. Within a year he was selected for service onboard HM Yacht Britannia where here spent the next 5 years travelling the world, performing music. In 1993 he was drafted back to Deal initially to the Band and then as an instructor at the School whereupon he was promoted to the rank of Band Corporal.

When the RMSM moved from Deal to Portsmouth in 1997 Richard moved with it and having received a distinguished pass from his M1's Course was placed on the 1998 Band Masters’ Course. On completion of the one-year course, having achieved a Distinguished Pass, an LRSM Diploma in Conducting and the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, he was promoted to Band Colour Sergeant. Determined to keep up his studies he attained a BMus(Hons) Degree in Composition and Conducting from Portsmouth University in 2000.
Richard was commissioned as a Royal Marines Officer in April 2002 and on completion of the SO(LE) Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines he was accepted as a student at Trinity College of Music. There he studied conducting under Peter Stark and was also fortunate to spend a brief mentorship with Sir Andrew Davis. On completion of his studies at Trinity he was awarded the MMus.

In April 2004 he was promoted to Captain and was delighted to be appointed to Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as the Director of Music in July the same year. Whilst with the Dartmouth band he conducted on numerous high profile events including the Lord Mayor’s Parade and the Mountbatten Festival of Music in the Royal Albert hall. He also led the Band on several foreign engagements, including performances at the British Ambassador’s Residence, Rome, in Gibraltar to celebrate Trafalgar 200, the Avanches Military Tattoo in Switzerland and most notably to Iraq to entertain the troops in Baghdad.

In October 2006 Richard was appointed Supply Officer (Music), responsible for the supply of musical instruments, equipment and ceremonial clothing for the Band Service. In September 2008 he became the SO3 Band/Career Manager Advisor in Headquarters in HMS Excellent and in June this year became the new Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth.

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Last Updated 24 November 2009