Richard Dacey joined the Phil in 1996. During this time he has directed the choir in a versatile repertoire ranging from established favourites such as the Verdi Requiem to Rutter's Gloria  and Feel the Spirit, and from operatic highlights to songs from the popular shows of the 20th century. Rehearsals, under Richard’s direction, are lively, full of pace and very enjoyable. Choir and choirmaster alike work hard to prepare each concert thoroughly.

Richard was born in Cardiff and studied at the Royal College of Music and University of London. He won the Geoffrey Tankard Prize for organ playing and performed as a pianist and organist in numerous venues in the London area including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Fairfield Hall, Southwark Cathedral and the Regent and Cockpit Theatres. After a brief but enjoyable time as Organist and Choirmaster at Great Malvern Priory, Richard moved to Canada where he became Director of Music at the prestigious Anglican church of St. Matthew's in Ottawa. He rapidly developed a career as a freelance player and conductor working with the Ottawa Choral Society, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Centennial Choir, the Cantata Singers, Thirteen Strings and Carleton University. He appeared regularly on CBC Radio, composed incidental music for NAC plays and was awarded the Leslie Bell Scholarship for choral conducting.

Richard returned to England in 1979 to teach at Shrewsbury School where he also built up the chapel choir to a high standard. This led to several invitations to provide singers for a children's chorus for CBSO concerts of Mahler symphonies in Birmingham and Leeds under Sir Simon Rattle, Mark Elder and Raphael Fruhbeck de Burgos. Richard also worked as a coach and musical director for the National Youth Music Theatre working on productions of Les Petite Rats, El Retablo de Maese Pedro and the widely acclaimed Pendragon at the Edinburgh, Sydmonton and Exeter Festivals, at the Lyric Theatre in London and on tour in Athens and Thessalonica.

In 1994, Richard was appointed Director of Music at Repton School where in addition to running a busy department of 6 full-time and 22 visiting staff, he also conducted the chapel choir, the choral society and the school orchestra. During his time, the chapel choir appeared on Channel 4 and BBC radio, the Concert Band toured South Africa, the String Orchestra visited the USA and the symphony orchestra performed twice at St John's Church, Smith Square, London and most recently on tour in the Tuscany region of Italy.

In September 2006 Richard was appointed Head of Performing Arts at Guthlaxton School in Leicester.

Richard's experience of broadcasting has led to renewed links between the Phil and the BBC; in 2004 the Phil recorded hymns for the BBC Radio 2 programme, Sunday Half-Hour. In August 2004 Richard conducted members of the Phil in three very successful concerts at venues in France, including la Madeleine in Paris.