Annette Richards is a renowned classical music artist who has made significant contributions to the world of music as a performer, scholar, and teacher. Born in 1969 in Sydney, Australia, Richards grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to classical music from a young age. Her father was a composer and conductor, and her mother was a pianist and music teacher. Richards began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from the start. Richards received her early music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she studied piano and harpsichord. She later went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Sydney and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. During her time at Eastman, Richards studied with renowned harpsichordist Arthur Haas and became interested in historical performance practice. After completing her studies, Richards embarked on a successful career as a performer, specializing in the music of the Baroque and Classical periods. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. Richards has also collaborated with many leading ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to her performing career, Richards is also a respected scholar and teacher. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on topics related to historical performance practice and has taught at several prestigious institutions, including Cornell University, the University of Michigan, and the Eastman School of Music. Richards is currently the David Wheatland Curator of the Cornell University Organ Collection and a professor of music at Cornell. One of the highlights of Richards' career was her performance of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Kennedy Center in 2007. The performance was hailed by critics as a "tour de force" and showcased Richards' virtuosic playing and deep understanding of Bach's music. Richards has also received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany. In addition to her work as a performer and scholar, Richards is also a passionate advocate for the preservation and restoration of historic organs. She has been involved in several restoration projects, including the restoration of the 18th-century John Snetzler organ at Cornell University and the 19th-century E. & G. G. Hook organ at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Rochester, New York. Overall, Annette Richards is a multifaceted artist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Her virtuosic playing, deep scholarship, and commitment to historic preservation have earned her a place among the most respected musicians of her generation.

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