He has earned a Masters degree in composition from Florida State University and a Bachelors degree from Shenandoah University; he is currently a Doctoral candidate at FSU. At Florida State and Shenandoah Richard had the priveledge to study composition with William Averitt, Mark Wingate, Clifton Callender, and Ladislav Kubik. In a short career he has achieved many performances and awards including the winner of New Music @ECU in 2002 for Fragile Wraths and again in 2003 for Upon a Child. Upon a Child has become his most successful piece having also been performed at the famous Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.