Richard Naill joined the CSULB Applied Music Faculty in the fall of 1992. Richard serves as the Director of the Chamber Music Institute, Colburn School of Music and is principal cello of the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. He is also on the Faculty at Pepperdine University.

He received his B.M. for the Eastman School of Music and both an M.M. and D.M.A. from the University of Southern California. He has been the receipient of the Armand Hammer-Rostropovich Prize. He is the former Principal Cellist, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Brunswick String Quartet, Le Trio Haydn de Montreal.

He has made many solo appearances on television and radio broadcasts throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is recorded on BARD, CBC and Orfeo labels. His research on biomechanics has been published in several scientific journals.