Music Director & Pianist

“... gave a masterful performance and received a thunderous, well-merited ovation.”
—Journal de Montréal

“…pianist Rich Coburn… could be called a hero.”
—Ludwig Van

Performer

MIDI Programming 

These pieces are from a Canada Council for the Arts supported project exploring techniques to allow
live singers to record with natural expression and flexibility using pre-recorded MIDI tracks.
The singers are human, and all other sounds are MIDI programmed by Rich Coburn.

As Associate Conductor for Volcano Theatre's Tremonisha—named one of the New York Times' Best Classical Music Performances of 2023—I helped reimagine how opera can be created and performed in the 21st century. I pioneered techniques for recording opera singers with virtual instruments supported by multiple Canada Council grants. I taught myself sound design to create the auditory landscape for Pointe-à-Callière Museum's "Vikings - Dragons of the Northern Seas". I was hired as organist at Christ Church Calgary—whose choir regularly visits Westminster Abbey—without formal organ training. Curiosity has shaped my career—and given me an unusual range of experiences to draw from.

I spent fifteen months as a Senior Manager at Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra. I loved working towards more diversity and inclusion in that role, and seeing the impact even small changes could have on communities. I also learned that my heart wants to be making more music than I can in an administrative role. So I’ve returned to my musical practice, changing my focus from opera to musical theatre.

Other musical highlights include serving as Music Director for Geneviève Leclerc's 176 Notes tour, a 13-date tour of China, and performing with my identical twin brother, also a pianist.