Stephanie Richards is a trumpeter, improviser, composer, conductor, bandleader, curator and producer whose accolades extend beyond what might be expected of an early-career musician. Driven by a curiosity of interaction and sensory possibilities in music, Richards has quietly built a compelling presence in improvised and experimental scenes. From working with creative pioneers Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton and John Zorn to music creators David Byrne, St. Vincent and Kanye West alike, her work extends to performance as well, where she has collaborated with artists Mike Kelley, Laurie Anderson and Yoko Ono. As a composer, her works have premiered at Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, Carnegie Hall and the Blue Note.
Originally from Canada, Richards has spent her career cultivating an international presence while living in Brooklyn, NY. She is involved with ensembles throughout the United States and around the world, including Bang on a Can's Asphalt Orchestra (of which she is a founding member). Richards has performed alongside the Kronos Quartet, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), The Pixies and Kanye West, and she co-produces the FONT Music Festival alongside trumpeter Dave Douglas. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, McGill University and the California Institute of the Arts and is on faculty at the University of California San Diego.
Richard's debut solo album FULLMOON on Relative Pitch Records was released to acclaim, with the New York Times calling it "a bold pronouncement..." and NPR classifying it as "spellbinding." Another project featured MacArthur Fellow and jazz pianist Jason Moran combining scent and musical composition, emphasizing the experimental nature of her work and the musical possibilities that result from fostering an open mind, creative ambition and curiosity for the unexplored. Richards is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
