London International Festival of Early Music appoints new patron

The London International Festival of Early Music (LIFEM) has today announced the appointment of new patron, HSH Dr Donatus, Prince of Hohenzollern. Prince Donatus, who is a member of the German royal family and a specialist author in the fields of epistemology and theology, brings to his new role extensive experience of supporting the arts in the UK.

Prince Donatus’s patronage will raise the festival’s profile and bring more international attention to LIFEM. His involvement in the culture sector has seen him support organisations including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hastings International Piano Competition, The Prince Consort Orchestra of the RCM, Arts for Dementia A4D London and Teahouse Baroque, a network for advanced and amateur players and singers.  

Accepting his new patronage, Prince Donatus said: ‘Music is surely nothing but communication, communication of an energy everyone craves. It can be great entertainment, but for me, in the duality of body and mind, it can be far more, a spiritual energy, however you describe this. The special merit of the London International Festival of Early Music is making music available in a market society, bridging culture and economy. In our times, the cultural value of bringing people together to enrich and develop their access to music cannot be overstated.’

LIFEM 2024 takes place from 13 to 16 November in Blackheath, London, bringing together performers, instrument makers and audiences for four days of recitals and competitions. This year’s festival will feature artists including Amsterdam-based The Royal Wind Music, La Vaghezza, Erik Bosgraaf with Italian ensemble filoBarocco, viola gamba player Robert Smith with lutenist Nicolas Achten, as well as harpsichordist Maciej Skrzeczkowski, and recorder player Jiyeon Bang.

Festival director Chris Butler said: ‘Our festival is a unique combination of reflection and preparation as we bring together all that is best in the worldwide early music community. The whole LIFEM team, under our new patron HSH Prince Donatus, is looking forward to this year’s event with great excitement.’