The team at Buxton International Festival is heartbroken by the news that our colleague Michael Harper has died in hospital following a collapsed lung. He was 61.
Michael was a hugely respected member of our community, and his kindness and passion for music left a lasting impression. He worked tirelessly to support emerging artists, championing access to live music and performance opportunities.
In 2021, he founded the Williams-Howard Prize, a prestigious competition celebrating art songs by composers of African heritage. It was named in honour of his grandfather, Chester Ambrose Williams, and his teacher, Helen Palmer Howard. The annual prize winner’s concert has become a staple of the Festival line-up, last year attracting a full-house.
Michael will be sorely missed by everyone at Buxton International Festival and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
BIF Chairman Felicity Goodey writes:
I met Michael when we were both members of the Governing Board of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he was also Professor of vocal studies. His Board contributions were always worth hearing and I was so impressed that I resolved to ask him if he would consider joining the Board of BIF. Everyone I spoke to warned me that he was in such high demand there was no way he would accept such an appointment. I rang him more in hope than expectation. He answered with a question. ‘Wasn’t it Malcolm Fraser who had founded the Festival?’ he asked. I confirmed that it was. There was a chuckle. ‘Malcolm’, he said ‘was my greatest mentor. I studied under him. Of course I would love to join the Board’. We were thrilled. We had no idea of his relationship with our founder. Michael proved to be not only an exemplary Board member but a tireless and energetic advocate of widening our audiences to young people in particular. We are all devastated by his loss and our thoughts are with his partner Tony who has also become a dear friend to BIF. We will find the appropriate way to honour Michael’s memory and ensure he is not forgotten.
