Richard Hammond read music at City University, London, receiving trumpet lessons at the Guildhall School of Music. In July 1990 Richard represented the United Kingdom in the European Music for Youth prize held at the South Bank. In September 1990 he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the David Mason prize for Orchestral Trumpet Playing.

 

Highlights of Richard's career have included a performance on a BBC Young Musician of the Year television trailer; playing on the soundtrack of the children's cartoon series Pongwiffy and an appearance as a trumpet-playing monk on ITV's The Ruth Rendell Mystery.

 

Richard is an extra with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and he regularly plays for the New Shakespeare Company at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. He is a keen supporter of Southampton Football Club and holds a Private Pilot's Licence.