Inspired by the countless forms found in literature, the natural world, memories, trance, and dream states, Richardson crafts sound worlds that arrest and stimulate the listener, “for their musical imagery is vivid and even visceral” (Allmusic). His works are as varied as his interests, which range from the poetry of Nathaniel Mackey and H.D. to etymology, sailing, ornithology, antique textiles, and Classics.

Richardson’s work has been commissioned and performed by prominent ensembles such as The Callithumpian Consort, Da Capo Chamber Players, Del Sol Quartet, Deviant Septet, Sinfonia Salt Lake, TEMPO, and yMusic. Richardson has collaborated with various jazz, world music, and multimedia artists including Alsarah & The Nubatones, Branford Marsalis, Frank Carlberg, Dor Herskovits, Bob Nieske, and Bill Seaman. He has been featured on the Aspen, Bowdoin, and Tanglewood music festivals, among others. Recent commissioners include Aspen Music Festival, Boston Musica Viva, Emmanuel Music, Lamnth, NEC Wind Ensemble, Tanglewood Music Center, and Transient Canvas.

In 2021, Richardson released his debut portrait album, Borne by a Wind, on New Focus Recordings. The album features Red Wind, a genre-spanning collaboration with poet Nathaniel Mackey and a mixed chamber ensemble of New-York based musicians, and three chamber works performed by pianist Conrad Tao, violinist Lilit Hartunian, and the Da Capo Chamber Players.

Notable honors include a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2018 Hermitage Prize from the Aspen Music Festival. Richardson has also received awards from the Utah Arts Festival, Duke University, Boston Conservatory, and Tufts University, and fellowships from the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. He was an Artist-in-Residence at the Longy School of Music of Bard College from 2022-24, and has participated in artist residencies at Crosstown Arts, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Oberpfälzer Künstlerhaus, and Virginia Center of the Creative Arts.

Richardson currently serves as faculty of Composition and Music Theory at New England Conservatory, where he co-chairs the Doctor of Musical Arts program. He has previously served on the faculties of MIT, Tufts University, and Wellesley College. Richardson holds a Ph.D. in Composition from Duke University and additional degrees from Boston Conservatory and Tufts University.