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 or supported 41 composers and artists from 15 countries; created or supported 23 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 100,000 people have so far attended concerts to hear music we have helped commission; and many millions of people have bought or downloaded our recorded music.
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
Eternal November
The next concert in the Eternal series curated by Sasha Elina and supported by RTF. New experimental music from Jordan Sand / felix taylor + opo. 19:30 Friday 6th November 2026, The Swiss Church in London, 79 Endell Street London WC2H 9DY. Tickets and details here...
Steve Reich: Radio Rewrite
Radio Rewrite, a London Sinfonietta commission co-funded by the foundation, has received multiple performances since its première at the Southbank in 2013. It will be played again as part of Steve Reich's 90th birthday concert at the Southbank on 27 September. (09/26)
Eternal September
The next concert in the Eternal series curated by Sasha Elina and supported by RTF. Eternal September features two acts that condition their sound and their narratives to the site of the performance. Raleigh Chapel welcomes Tennota, joined by Rosa Anschütz, for...
Orgelpark Symposium
Between 4th and 6th June 2026 seven RTF commissioned works, including four world premières, will be performed in Amsterdam. More details here: (05/26)
New Commission: Amarante Nat
"Love in the Meantime", for organ and voice, composed and performed by Amarante Nat, has been co-commissioned by RTF with the Hamel Foundation. The work is based on fragments from W. H. Auden’s poem As I Walked Out One Evening (1940), and will receive its premiere at...
New Commission: Charlotte Bray
“That which you wove of lightest thread, I wear to honour stone”, for Ben Goldscheider (horn) and string quartet, has been co-commissioned by RTF with the North Yorkshire Moors Chamber Music Festival. The title is drawn from Paul Celan’s poem “Totenhemd”, and the work...
New Commission: Joseph Phibbs
RTF has commissioned a new cycle of folk songs by the British composer Joseph Phibbs, written in collaboration with the poet Robin Leanse. The work will be written for Julia Sinclair (soprano) and Elisa La Marca (lute) and is expected to last approximately 20–25...
New Commission: Kara-Lis Coverdale
RTF has commissioned Kara-Lis Coverdale to create a new organ work. The composition will première in Amsterdam at the Orgelpark’s summer symposium on 4-6 June 2026. (02/26) Photo (C) Vera Marmelo
Musicon, Durham: Jane Chapman
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