His ambition was further stimulated when his sixth grade teacher required a book report. Richard elected to write about the life of Peter Tchaikovsky. His profound admiration for the great classical composer inspired his musings about one day composing a symphony.

As years passed he was fortunate to have other mentors contribute to his storehouse of knowledge. In New York, his Aunt's neighbor friend, Mrs Crangle, was arranger of music for the famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. She taught Richard to play several pieces on piano including Autumn Leaves and Stardust, which were added to his abreviated repertoire of the Grieg Piano Concerto. In middle school Richard was an improvising tenor in an award winning boy's quartet. All the foregoing was sufficient to allow him to proceed at age fifty-five as he began his first symphony composition. Ill health made him fear his composition would be his last. He not only survived but was invited to Washington, DC for an interview with the Voice of America . The interview and his first symphony was broadcast to 140,000,000 people in 48 different languages throughout the world.

Mr. Englefield's talent for harmony was discovered at the early age of eight when his baby sitter showed him the way and he easily followed her example. Reportedly the boy's quartet won a talent contest near Dayton, Ohio edging out the later to become famous McGuire Sisters. Richard Englefield's gifts were obvious to others while the young song bird took it all for granted having no music encouragement. He grew up without his mother who passed away when Richard was one year old.

Growing up and following in his older brothers footsteps Richard liked sports. Musically, he favored Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Artie Shaw and Dave Bruebeck. He also loved the music of the Moorman Tabernacle Choir, sang in church choir and his school chorus. The tell tale indication of his classical leanings could be found in his piano renditions of Autumn Leaves and Star Dust, all having ear marks of the classical pianist.

It has been said that we stand upon the shoulders of our predecessors. For Richard Englefield his predecessors ranged widely from Grieg and Tchiakovsky to Brubeck, "The Duke" and the divine sounds of Ella Fitzgerald. He remembers saying as he began the lonely and difficult task of composing his first symphony, "I will compose beautiful music with lovely harp and flute interludes, beautiful violins and I will compose from within my own paradigm - the 20th Century."

Mr. Englefield's compositions have proven to be quite playable. Recordings for CD by the London Symphony, Slovak Radio and esteemed Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic) Orchestras prove the point. Mr. Englefield sought to be different but not radically different. He merely wanted his personality and the evolution of music during his lifetime to be represented in his compositions. Thus, the music of Richard Englefield has uncommon familiarity to instrumentalists and conductors alike. Others in the profession have described his music variously as "fun", "joyful", "rhythmically smooth", "accessible", and "too good to be ignored." The latter statement was made by Maestro John Boyden, Director of the Queens Royal Philharmonic and extremely gifted Mastering Engineer for the London Symphony Orchestra.

Several years ago Simon James, Principal Violinist for the Seattle Symphony called the composer and said, "Richard I liked your Violin Concerto. It is not easy but I would like to perform it." Nearly one year later Simon James teamed up with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra for the recording performance of the Englefield Violin Concerto. Smooth and rhythmic passages are heard in Richard Englefield's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Concerto for Harp and Orchestra and most welcomed in his Piano Concerto No. 1. Enjoyable, performable, and delightfully fun best describe the composer's music. Having no shades of radical departure or atonal resonance, Mr. Englefields compositions are filled with welcomed familiarity.

Today, Mr. Englefield resides near Gainesville, Fl. He is said to be retired but actually continues a busy life having recently completed his 12th Symphony titled Something Cool.He plays golf frequently and cares for his prized seven gardens. The gardens have 65 Rose plantings, 27 Hibiscus of differing varieties and a vast array of other beautiful flowers. Being a former Editorial Writer he has Journals at AOL for political comment, golf instruction and a Photo Journal featuring his travels and the seven magnificent gardens. His music is frequently heard on WUFT-FM on the Music of the 20th Century program hosted by Station Manager, Henry Pensis. WUFT-FM makes it's home at the University of Florida. Mr. Englefield is also very active in Rotary International.