Richard Hickox
An inspiration to us all
With gifted and musical parents, Richard Hickox’s early promise was quickly realised. He was playing the organ at the age of seven in the church where his father was the vicar. He showed very early those special talents which later distinguished the man, including a capacity for hard work and an enthusiasm which seemed to carry all before it. In his teens he was conducting at the Wooburn Festival and in 1973 – at the age of just 25 – he became the youngest person to conduct at the Proms. He formed his own orchestra in 1971, the City of London Sinfonia, and was quickly taken up by record companies.
Richard’s English National Opera debut followed in 1979 (with Dido and Aeneas), his operatic achievements broadening what was already a remarkably wide range of musical interests. Closest to his heart, however, was British music. His performances of Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Delius and others showed profound musical insights; big-hearted, expressive and rooted in the colours and contours of the English country-side.

Richard was a completely rounded musician with a patience, kindness and charisma that endeared him to players and singers alike. His enthusiasm bred its own energy and this, in turn, inspired performers. He was superb at marshalling large forces. He cared about the development of the artists he worked with and they repaid this loyalty by giving of their best for him.

He had a generosity of spirit and a wonderful quality of empathy for others. For someone of his musical achievements, he was never arrogant, never pompous. Indeed, there was a humility about Richard that was as endearing as it was unexpected. He was light-hearted and, above all, incredibly enthusiastic for those causes he held dear. His determination to make things happen for these passions was astonishing – without this energy and focus he could not have achieved all that he did. He was able to take others with him on his crusades and all in the pursuit of great music. During his life, it is hard to see how he could have achieved more.

An unassuming man who was always a delight to meet, Richard was a tireless musical explorer who was able to create a wonderful sense of spirituality which lifted performances to become special, memorable events. For all these reasons, Richard was loved as well as respected. 
 
By helping the Foundation, you can pay your respects to Richard the man and the musician.