A native of Loughor in South West Wales, Richard Allen is an Honours Graduate in Pure Mathematics from the University of Wales, Swansea. He currently teaches Mathematics at Ysgol Glan-Y-Môr School in Burry Port.
Richard began singing as a chorister but has since developed as a solo artiste under the tuition of Jeanette Massocchi. He has been highly successful on the competitive stage with an impressive record in the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen and the International Mozart Competition. Prizes include the Pam Weaver Memorial Scholarship, the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband for youth and the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship. The latter enabled Richard to further his vocal studies with the world-renowned tenor Stuart Burrows. The pinnacle of Richard's competitive achievements was reached when he won the coveted David Ellis Memorial prize, the Blue Riband, at the 2003 National Eisteddfod in Meifod. In this year's National Eisteddfod at Felindre, Swansea, Richard had the honour of being inaugurated into the Gorsedd of Bards in recognition of his musical achievements and contribution to Welsh culture.
His concert performances have been equally successful and he has sung at Craig-Y-Nôs, as well as appearing on S4C and with the Welsh National Opera Chorus, the Opera School Wales and with many well known choirs, operatic and choral societies. He has also toured widely, performing at major venues in Hungary, Barcelona, Belgium, North America and Canada. Richard has an extensive repertoire in opera, operetta and oratorio. Performances include 'The Armed Man Ð A Mass for Peace' by Karl Jenkins, Handel's 'Messiah', 'Judas Maccabaeus' and 'Chandos Anthem Number 9', Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' and 'Hymn of Praise', Stainer's 'The Crucifixion', Maunder's 'Olivet To Calvary', Bach's 'Mass in B Minor' and 'Magnificat', C.P.E Bach's 'Magnificat', Antonio Caldara's 'Missa Dolorosa', Haydn's 'The Creation', 'St. Nicholas Mass', 'Imperial Nelson Mass' and 'Maria Theresa Mass', Puccini's 'Messa di Gloria', Mozart's 'Requiem' and 'Coronation Mass', Gounod's 'St. Cecilia Mass', Schubert's 'Mass in G', Verdi's 'Requiem', 'Misa Criolla' by Ariel Ramirez, Rossini's 'Petite Messe Solennelle', 'Sid El Kar' in Romberg's 'The Desert Song', 'Don Jose' in Bizet's 'Carmen', 'Alfred' in Johan Strauss's 'Die Fledermaus', 'Frederic' in Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance', 'Hilarion' in G&S's 'Princess Ida', 'Ralph Rackstraw' in G&S's 'HMS Pinafore', title role in Romberg's 'The Student Prince', 'Ismael' in Verdi's 'Nabucco', 'Fenton' in Nicolai's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor', 'Vasek' in Smetena's 'The Bartered Bride', 'Eleazor' in Rossini's 'Moses', 'Tamino' in Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' and 'Aristeus/Pluto' in Offenbach's 'Orpheus in the Underworld'.
Richard is in demand throughout Wales and beyond for his opera, oratorio and concert work. Recent engagements include a concert with Rebecca Evans for the Neath and Port Talbot Cancer Challenge Singers and the opening concert of this year's National Eisteddfod at Felindre, Swansea alongside Kathryn Jenkins, for which Richard received much acclaim. Future engagements include several male choir annual concerts, a series of concerts of Viennese favourites at venues in Wales and England, Gounod's 'St Cecilia's Mass' for Côr Baroque, a concert at the Wales Millennium Centre that will include a tribute to the career of the world-renowned tenor Stuart Burrows, 'Ismael' in Verdi's 'Nabucco' for Côr Glandulais, and this year's civic performance of Handel's 'Messiah' at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea with The Gower Chorale.
