About

Richard Scholfield is an award-winning Scottish saxophonist whose expressive artistry, distinctive “silken” sound (The Scotsman) and thoughtful programming have established him as a compelling performer of solo and chamber music. With a particular interest in the dialogue between historical repertoire and the modern saxophone, he combines musical sensitivity and technical virtuosity with an engaging, accessible approach to performance, inviting audiences to discover both the instrument’s rich history and its evolving artistic possibilities.

“This was a highly accomplished and expressive recital performance, showcasing the saxophonist’s ability to carry a tune and to ease through the most challenging virtuosic passages. It was a well devised programme including pertinent and erudite spoken introductions. It was a very classy presentation by both performers.”

— Richard Ingham, CASSGB Magazine, Autumn 2026 issue (Volume 51, Number 3)

A passionate chamber musician, Richard is the soprano saxophonist of the Scottish Saxophone Quartet and one half of the award-winning Scholfield-Clarke Duo with pianist Iain Clarke. Their musical partnership has taken them to venues across the UK, including Perth Concert Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields, with programmes combining established saxophone repertoire, contemporary works and imaginative transcriptions. Their collaborative work also embraces new music, including commissions from composers John De Simone and Tom W. Green. Richard additionally performs in distinctive quintet programmes with the Resol String Quartet, bringing original arrangements and adventurous repertoire to audiences throughout Scotland, particularly in rural communities.

Richard’s commitment to expanding the saxophone repertoire extends to his work as an arranger and transcriber. Fascinated by the possibilities of reimagining music for a comparatively young instrument, he creates new interpretations of works originally written for other instruments and ensembles. His arrangements span composers as diverse as J. S. Bach, Frédéric Chopin, Amy Beach and Olivier Messiaen, encompassing solo works, instrumental duos, larger chamber ensembles and choral music. His work ranges from accessible arrangements for amateur musicians and community ensembles to projects for professional performers. He has also undertaken orchestral arranging, including an arrangement of William Grant Still’s Romance, performed by Metropolitan Opera principal bass trombonist Denson Paul Pollard during the 2023/24 season.

Alongside his live performances, Richard’s recorded work reflects his interest in collaboration and contemporary creativity. He features on Building Castles, released in August 2024 through Live Music Now Scotland and Delphian Records, which includes a new composition by Scottish composer Erin Thomson. He also appears on Don't Add to Heartache, released in March 2024, a collaborative project with soprano Stephanie Lamprea, composer Tom W. Green and fellow improvisers, featuring recordings from the 2023 Hidden Door Festival in Edinburgh.

Richard’s achievements include selection as a 2020 City Music Foundation artist, second prize in the 2024 Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition at Mayfield Festival, and the 2023 Arosa Kultur Hans-Schaeuble Award, which led to a recital tour in Switzerland in March 2024. His concerto experience includes performances of composer-conductor Darrell Davison’s triple saxophone concerto The Garden of Earthly Delights in Cambridge, Epsom, Sevenoaks and Croydon during the 2023/24 season. He has performed with leading UK orchestras, including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and the orchestra of Scottish Opera, and has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Wind Orchestra and the Kelvin Ensemble. He is an endorsing artist for Légère Reeds and Selmer saxophones.

Richard graduated with a Master of Arts in saxophone performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he studied with Josef Pacewicz and visiting professor Arno Bornkamp. His further training has included the Arosa Music Academy, the London Sinfonietta Academy and the European University of Saxophone, alongside additional study and chamber music coaching in Amsterdam. During his studies, he received several distinctions, including the Governors’ Recital Prizes for Woodwind and Chamber Music and first prize in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Woodwind Concerto Competition.

Beyond the concert platform, Richard is deeply committed to music education, community music-making and widening access to musical opportunities. He is Music Director of the Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra, a registered Scottish charity dedicated to making ensemble music accessible and providing opportunities for saxophonists to develop their skills and perform together. Based in Inverurie, the orchestra brings together players of different ages and abilities in an inclusive, non-auditioned environment. Its distinctive instrumentation encompasses the full saxophone family, from sopranino to bass saxophone, and its eclectic repertoire ranges across classical music, jazz, folk, rock and contemporary works. Through rehearsals, performances and playing-technique workshops that also welcome non-members, the orchestra promotes musical development, collaboration and community participation.

Richard also teaches saxophone at the Music School of Douglas Academy and saxophone and clarinet at Kelvinside Academy, while maintaining a private teaching studio offering tuition in saxophone, piano, aural skills and music theory. He has directed the 80-strong Clarkston Community Choir for over a decade and serves as organist and choir director at Williamwood Parish Church. Across his performing, arranging, teaching and musical leadership, Richard brings the same dedication to musical communication, collaboration and making music accessible to a broad range of audiences.