Supporting innovation +
excellence in
contemporary arts
About the
Foundation
The Richard Thomas Foundation was established in 2009 to commission innovative and interesting works of contemporary performance art, and to support an ongoing programme of performances, recordings and exhibitions in London, Berlin, and elsewhere.
So far the Foundation has commissioned 21 composers; created or supported 18 recordings; and supported or promoted over 40 concerts. Many of the pieces we have commissioned continue to be performed all over the world, and some have won awards. Over 35,000 people have so far attended concerts to hear music we have helped commission.
The Foundation owns a record company, Junk Ibu Limited, with two labels: Junk Ibu for contemporary music releases; and RTF Classical for modern chamber music releases.
Recent News
Concert Series: MONOM Berlin
We are helping Brussels based Echo Collective (Neil Leiter, Margaret Hermant and Fabien Leseure) to create and perform a new composition in spatial sound at MONOM on 9th July 2022. Echo Collective have worked previously with the Foundation on recording and performing...
Premiere: Gavin Higgins at Aldeburgh
The Piatti Quartet, David Cohen and Sara Roberts will be playing the world premiere of Gavin Higgins' RTF commission "Ekstasis" at the Aldeburgh Festival on 18th June 2022. Tickets available here (06/22)
Concert series: MONOM Berlin
We are helping violinist Rakhi Singh create and perform a spatialised violin and electronics concert at MONOM on 11th June 2022. Works include "Lad" by Julia Wolfe, originally for 9 bagpipes, and compositions by composers Edmund Finnis, Alex Groves, Emily Hall, and...
Premiere: Kali Malone at Orgelpark
Kali will be playing the world premiere of the first part of her RTF organ commission on the Van Straten Organ at Het Orgelpark, Amsterdam on 10th June 2022. Tickets available here (05/22)
Our first decade
We’ve just filed our 10th annual report. Over the last decade we’ve helped 27 composers from 12 countries create new pieces of music; made 51 grants totalling £370,000; spent £60,000 on performances of new works at over 40 concerts; and recorded and released 18...
Concert series: MONOM Berlin
We helped Australian sound artist Oren Ambarchi create a spatial mix of his forthcoming album "Shebang" at MONOM in March, featuring Ambarchi on guitars and whatnot with special guests. Mixed in 4DSOUND by Tilo von Ketelhodt, William Russell & Oren Ambarchi. A...
In the Studio: A Year in Paris
Just back from a weekend at Wyastone Concert Hall recording for our next CD with Claire Booth, Andrew Matthews-Owen and producer sound engineer Raphaël Mouterde - 23 songs written in Paris between 1913 and 1914, including some that have never been performed (03/22).
New Commission: Joseph Phibbs
RTF, with the Hattori Foundation as co-commissioner, has commissioned Joseph Phibbs to write his fourth string quartet for the Piatti Quartet to play, and to record along with his Quartets no.2 and no.3. (11/21).
Blog update
Richard posted one of his very occasional updates to his blog about recently released piano music he enjoyed over the last year.