History

Sir Michael Tippett established the Foundation in 1979 with funds from the sale of manuscripts to the British Library. Find out about the Michael Tippett collection here.

The Foundation's purpose is to make donations in the field of music and in its first twenty years more than 500 grants were given to organisations across the United Kingdom to support young musicians and composers, new music and music education initiatives.

Following Tippett’s death, in 1998, the Foundation had a dormant period but re-opened to applications in 2007. In 2022, the Trustees decided to include, in the Foundation’s activities, the promotion of Tippett’s own music.

Patrons

  • David Cairns CBE

    David Cairns is a writer on music and the author of a seminal biography of Hector Berlioz.

  • Paul Crossley CBE

    Paul Crossley is a leading pianist, especially associated with the music of Tippett, whose third and fourth piano sonatas were written for him.

  • Edward Gardner OBE

    Edward Gardner is the principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Trustees

  • Oliver Soden

    CHAIR

    Oliver Soden is the biographer of Michael Tippett, Noel Coward, and Christopher Smart’s cat Jeoffry.

  • Katie Tearle MBE

    DEPUTY CHAIR

    Katie Tearle is Director for New Music for Edition Peters Group.

  • Sarah Bardwell

    TRUSTEE

    Sarah Bardwell is Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Jonathan Dove CBE

    TRUSTEE

    Jonathan Dove is an award-winning composer of (among others) the operas Flight and Mansfield Park.

  • Nancy Evans

    TRUSTEE

    Nancy Evans is Director of Learning & Participation for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

  • Sally Groves MBE

    TRUSTEE

    Sally Groves was, until 2012, Creative Director of Schott Music.

  • Jeremy Hayes

    TRUSTEE

    Jeremy Hayes is a freelance music producer, writer and broadcaster.

  • Chris Scobie

    TRUSTEE

    Chris Scobie is Lead Curator of music manuscripts at the British Library.

  • Simon Weil

    TRUSTEE

    Simon Weil is a solicitor, and Chairman of the Handel House Trust Ltd.

  • Anthony Whitworth-Jones

    TRUSTEE

    Anthony Whitworth-Jones is an opera manager, and former chair of the Tippett Foundation.

  • Sarah Noble

    ADMINISTRATOR

    Sarah Noble is a freelance administrator, writer, and opera critic.