Capt Richard Harvey BMus(Hons) LRSM AMusTCL RM
Capt Rich Harvey joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1989 as a solo trombonist, and during his
time at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent, Rich was awarded a silver medal by the
Worshipful Company of Musicians for winning the Cassel Prize; an annual instrumental competition.
On completion of training in 1991 Rich was drafted to the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
band based at Royal Marines Eastney, and took part in a two month tour of New Zealand to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Royal New Zealand Navy. In 1994 Rich was selected for
the HMY Britannia band and spent the next three years travelling extensively to countries such as
Russia, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, the USA and Canada, performing for the Royal Family and other
world leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. Whilst onboard HMY Britannia, Rich also took
part in the 1994 Fleet Review and a visit to the Pegasus Bridge in Normandy.
In 1996 Rich completed the Junior Command Course at the Commando Training Centre and over the
next few years was extremely busy as the principal trombonist of the Portsmouth Band, with trips to
Australia, Nova Scotia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Following promotion to Band Corporal
and further Command Training, Rich attended and passed the 2003 Bandmasters’ Course; a year long
course at the Royal Marines School of Music, Portsmouth, on completion of which Rich was promoted to
Band Sergeant.
In January 2004 Rich became involved with a training band for a local amateur wind band, and trained
young musicians who wished to progress to the adult band. This positive experience led Rich to
successfully audition for the position of Musical Director of the Southampton Concert Wind Band, (an
amateur civilian band with over 50 members), and during his time with them performed extensively in
the South of England and took the band on a trip to Bavaria.
In October 2006 Rich was drafted to the Britannia Royal Naval College band, and following promotion to
Band Colour Sergeant, Rich was deployed to Cyprus as part of the Royal Marines Band Service Cyprus
Reinforcement Unit. It was during his time there that he learnt of his promotion to Lieutenant. On
completion of the Senior Corps Commission course at the Commando Training Centre, Rich was
promoted to Captain and appointed Director of Music of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines
Scotland in September 2007.
Highlights of Rich’s career so far have been performing at the 1992 FA Cup final, performing a solo at
the 2003 Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall and performing at the wedding of the
Duke and Duchess of Wessex. Rich’s hobbies include motorcycling; both on the road and on the track,
and he is married to Steph, a former musician in the Band Service.