Professor Richards has been invited to contribute to a new series of practical professional books for teachers of English in China. The series is being published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, the educational publishing division of Beijing University of Foreign Studies and the largest university press in China. The series editors for the books are Professor Guoxing Yu (Bristol University) and Professor Peter Gu (Victoria University, Wellington). The title and contents of Professor Richards’ book are:
Continue readingClosing the Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Gallery
The reasoning behind my decision to close down the Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Gallery at The Tairāwhiti Museum, Gisborne
On 23 December 2011 the Museum and I signed an agreement that the museum trust would build an extension, to be known as ‘the Richards Gallery’ to be funded by Jack Richards at a cost of some $350,000.
The agreement stated that the gallery would primarily be used for the purpose of housing and displaying objects on loan from Jack Richards’ collection, but also items from the Museum’s own collection and touring exhibitions. The agreement also specified that items from the Richards collection would be displayed in a different section of the gallery from items from the museum collection. The MOU states:
“The museum may exhibit items other than Jack Richards collection for up to four months each year in the general exhibition component of the gallery”.
Continue readingTeaching and Learning in English Medium Instruction
Jack Richards’ new book on English Medium Instruction (with Jack Pun), has been published by Routledge.
Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Collection
Many of the items in the Jack C Richards Decorative Arts collection are now available to view on eHive.
Croft Organ at St Andrew’s Church
In May Dr. Richards spoke at an event to mark the restoration of a pipe organ built by Dr. Richards’ uncle William Croft, at St Andrew’s Church, Wellington.
For a note on the organ building company founded by Jack’s grandfather, please read on:
Continue readingPlease support artists in their hour of need
In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Dr Richards spoke about how he first became involved in sponsoring the arts, and stressed the importance of supporting artists.
New Textbook Series for Non-English Majors in Chinese Universities
Dr. Richards is Editor in Chief for a new series of textbooks published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press and Oxford University Press (China).
One series is a 4 level integrated course, entitled Over to You, the first level of which has now been published. The second series is a 4 level listening and speaking course.
Tairawhiti Museum Concert Series 2020
Dr Richards is sponsoring the following concerts to be held in the Tairawhiti Museum in 2020.
- 9 August 2020
Jazz Duo - 13 September 2020
Seven Inspiring Young Singers from Napier’s Project Prima Volta - 18th October 2020
Operatic Voices - 8th November 2020
Classical Guitar Duo
For more information, please see the Tairawhiti Museum Concerts 2020 page.
Concerts in support of the Gisborne International Music Competition 2019/2020
Dr. Richards sponsored a number of fundraising concerts over the New Zealand summer.
On December 15th 2019 at the Lawson Field Theater in Gisborne three outstanding New Zealand pianists Maria Mo, Lixin Zhang and Tony Tay Tong Chen performed at three concerts:
- Concert 1: With music by Ravel, Albeniz, Manuel de Falla, Granados, Marquez
- Concert 2: With music by Brahms (the complete waltzes), Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin
- Concert 3: With music by Berg, Scriabin, Janacek Prokofiev, and Psathas
On Sunday January 26th 2020 Baritone William King with associate artist Bruce Greenfield (piano) presented the following programme at Tiromoana:
- Kaddisch — Ravel
- Dichterliebe — Schumann
- Silent Noon — Vaughan Williams
- King David — Howells
- Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo — Mozart, Cosi Fan tutte
On Sunday February 9th 2020 Sydney pianist Paul Cheung played at Tiromoana. His programme was:
- F. Chopin — The complete Preludes Op. 28
- F. Kreisler (arr. S. Rachmaninoff) — Liebesleid
- S. Rachmaninoff — Sonata No. 2 in Bb minor, Op. 36
Sponsorship for young New Zealand pianists
Dr, Richards provides support for young New Zealand pianists to study at musical academies in Spain and Switzerland:
Valencia, Spain: July 2019 – Lixin Zhang & Tony Yan Tong Chen
Blonay, Switzerland: August 2019 – Lixin Zhang, Delvan Lin, Tony Yan Tong Chen, Lorelle McNaughton and Ashani Waidyatillake
New Series of Practical Booklets for Teachers
Dr Richards and his colleague at the Regional Language Centre, Singapore - Dr Marie Yeo - are editing a new series of practical low cost booklets for teachers and teacher trainers.
The first three titles in the new series are now available, and include one by Dr Richards called Planning a Language Course: Principles and Procedures.
Professor at the top of his game
Gisborne’s Professor Jack Richards has been named one of the 50 most influential language teaching specialists in the world — and the only Kiwi. Reporter Kim Parkinson meets the man known for his generosity in supporting the arts, at his summer home Tiromoana in Okitu.
Read the rest of the Gisborne Herald article here.