New Zealand cellist Richard Belcher has performed as ROCO’s principal cellist since 2008. He is also active as a chamber musician and soloist across the USA and internationally. He is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet, which boasts multiple highly acclaimed recordings and regular performances in many of the major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center of New York, and the Library of Congress.

Richard has appeared at many festivals, including those in France, the UK, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and throughout the U.S. He has been involved with many live and pre-recorded radio, TV, and internet broadcasts in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Richard enjoys teaching and has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and currently is on the faculty at the Interlochen Adult Chamber Music Camp.

Richard moved to the U.S. in 1998 to study with Aldo Parisot at Yale University, and it was there in 1999 that he founded the Enso String Quartet. Other major teachers include Norman Fischer, Marc Johnson, and Alexander Ivashkin.

Richard is married to ROCO violinist, Cecilia Belcher. When possible they enjoy playing chamber music together, and they also recently performed the Brahms Double Concerto together in St Paul, MN. They live in Minneapolis with their young son, Finn.

Principal cellist, Richard Belcher, was featured soloist performing the Haydn Cello Concerto, at The Church of St. John the Divine on February 18, 2012.