Saul Richmond-Rakerd began his cello studies at the age of 9 in his hometown of Okemos, Michigan. He is a graduate of Brown University with degrees in both Physics and Anthropology. While at Brown, he completed the Applied Music Program, and served as principal of the Brown University Orchestra, performed as a soloist, and played regularly with several chamber music groups. After attending the Castleton Music Festival in 2013, he moved to Florence, Italy to pursue a Biennio di Violoncello, and to play professionally as principal cellist of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. After completion of his diploma, he moved to San Francisco in 2015 to begin a Master of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of Jennifer Culp. He completed his studies in December 2016.

Richmond-Rakerd has played as a concerto soloist with the Okemos Symphony Orchestra and has been awarded First Prize at the Barbara Fritz Chamber Music Award (2016), First Prize at the Luigi Boccherini Chamber Music Competition in Lucca, Italy (2016), Second Prize at the Dorothy Van Waynen Competition for Strings (2016), Primo Arco Premio (2014), Weston Prize for the Arts (2013), and the Buxtehude Premium Prize in Music (2012).

Richmond-Rakerd is currently a member of Luminance, a cello-harp-trumpet trio drawing on Latin, classical, and jazz roots. He was a founding member of both the Capitoline Trio and Quattro alla Volta, a cello quartet with whom he performed during his time in Italy. A cellist with San Francisco Ballet Orchestra since 2023, he is a supernumerary cellist with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and currently serves as assistant principal cellist for Santa Cruz Symphony, as a section cellist with Monterey Symphony, and as co-principal cellist of One Found Sound.