Richard Phillips, Classical Music Impresario and Festival Director, Dies at 85
My friend Richard Phillips, who has died aged 85, was a distinguished classical music impresario with a remarkable career that included directing more than 100 arts festivals across the United Kingdom and beyond. His legacy in the cultural landscape is profound and enduring.
Founding Major Festivals and Building a Legacy
After founding the York early music festival and the Huddersfield contemporary music festival in the late 1970s, Richard moved back to his family home of Northgate in Warwick in 1980. From his desk, he could see St Mary’s church, where the choir was the focal point of Warwick Arts Week. On that foundation, he meticulously built the Warwick festival, which continued annually until 2005, becoming a staple in the region's cultural calendar.
The town’s smaller venues were particularly well suited to chamber music, for which Warwick became renowned, and concerts were also held in Warwickshire’s rural churches, showcasing his ability to blend music with historic settings. Alongside that annual cycle, Richard directed the long-established Norfolk & Norwich festival from 1986 to 1991, transforming it from a triennial to an annual event. He also led festivals at Solihull (1990–92), King’s Lynn (1992–97), and Stratford-upon-Avon (2000–07), organised concerts in National Trust properties, and launched a literary festival, Warwick Words, from 2001.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Richard was born at Northgate, a 17th-century house acquired by his maternal grandfather, the architect Edwin F Reynolds. His parents were Isobel and Arthur Phillips, but he did not remember his father, who was killed on active service in Italy shortly before Richard’s fourth birthday, a loss that shaped his early years.
Educated at Oundle school in Northamptonshire, where he was a keen rugby player, Richard went on to study modern history at Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating in 1963. He then taught in Italy and at Warwick school, before taking on administrative roles with Sadler’s Wells Opera from 1966. In 1970, he joined the Yorkshire Arts Association, where he began to hone his skills in arts promotion and management.
Return to Warwick and Entrepreneurial Ventures
After his mother’s death in 1980, Richard moved back to Warwick, married his long-term partner, Veronica Mountford, and started a wine business. He sought to replicate his Yorkshire experiences by actively promoting music in the Midlands, blending his entrepreneurial spirit with his passion for the arts. From 1980 onwards, alongside his festival work, he nurtured this wine venture, demonstrating his multifaceted interests.
Later Career and European Connections
In 2005, Richard parted company with Warwick Arts Society. From that point, he and Veronica promoted concerts independently, and then founded a new organisation, Leamington Music, which continues to thrive today, a testament to his lasting impact on the local music scene.
Passionately pro-European, Richard routinely drove long distances across the continent to foster cultural exchanges. His first visit to Prague was in June 1968, which led to a cherished tradition of bringing Czech musicians to perform in Britain. His achievements were widely acknowledged, including an honorary fellowship at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2001, an MBE appointment in 2016, and a medal in honour of his contribution to Anglo-Czech relations in 2018. His last festival was in 2024, marking the end of an illustrious career.
Personal Life and Survivors
He is survived by Veronica, their two daughters, Katie and Lucy, and nine grandchildren, who continue to cherish his memory and contributions to the arts world.
