Richard Ames is a composer, arranger, and producer in the Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia metropolitan areas. He has premiered a number of compositions and arrangements with a variety of ensembles in the Washington, D.C. and Atlanta regions. His music has also appeared as underscore to a number of films across the United States and as the backdrop to productions around the world. Richard is also active as a performing musician: his current professional performing positions include Principal Clarinet with the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra and substitute with the Maryland Symphony. Richard has studied with Loren Kitt (National Symphony Orchestra), David Niethamer (Richmond Symphony Orchestra), and Andrea Strauss (Director of Bands, Georgia Institute of Technology). Richard's compositions are eclectic in their influences and styles, including standard harmonic forms as well as full use of 20th and 21st century techniques, often in the same composition. He is equally comfortable composing for full orchestra and modern popular styles, including Electronica, Hip-Hop, Rock, and other popular forms. He is also dedicated to the artistic infusion of modern technology into classic art forms, as evidenced by his use of modern digital tools to transform and realize classically inspired musical structures.   www.rgamesmusic.com