St Matthew's Chamber Orchestra

Emma Richards began playing the tenor horn at the age of nine years old in the Timaru Brass Band, but later realised the French horn was a better career choice. She graduated from Massey University at the end of 2006 with first class honours in performance. While studying Emma won the position of second horn in Vector Wellington Orchestra, played principal horn in the National Youth Orchestra and was an active freelancer throughout New Zealand performing with the Christchurch Symphony and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2007 Emma won the Alex Lindsay Memorial Award and travelled to Canada, where she attended the Banff Summer Music Festival and auditioned successfully for the Festival Orchestra. Playing the horn has also taken Emma to China, London, Tonga, the Middle East and Australia, where she played with the Melbroune Symphony Orchestra. In 2008 Emma was offered a trial for principal third horn in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and is currently on probation for this position.