Soprano Deborah Roberts passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 72.
Born in London, England, on May 10, 1952, Roberts attended Lady Edridge Grammar School in Croydon before continuing her education at the University of Leicester and Nottingham University. Her passion for early music led her to success, winning a prize at the 1981 early music competition in Bruges.
Roberts’ professional career saw her perform with numerous early music ensembles. She became particularly captivated by Renaissance and early Baroque music. From 1978 to 2008, she was a key member of The Tallis Scholars, with whom she performed in over 1,200 concerts worldwide and contributed to more than 60 recordings.
In addition to her work with The Tallis Scholars, Roberts made notable solo appearances with groups such as the Consort of Musicke, the Deller Consort, Parley of Instruments, London Baroque, and The English Concert.
In 1990, Roberts founded Musica Secreta, a pioneering ensemble featuring female voices and continuo. Under her direction, the group gained acclaim, culminating in the prestigious Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society in 1996. Musica Secreta produced several albums, including “Dangerous Graces” and “Sacred Hearts, Secret Music.”
Roberts further cemented her legacy by founding the Brighton Early Music Festival in 2002. The festival grew to become one of the UK’s largest and most innovative early music events, recognized as a major influence in the early music community.
In academia, Roberts served as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, focusing on 16th-century music. She also shared her expertise through lectures, workshops, and courses on Renaissance and early Baroque music at various institutions.
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