It was with great sadness that Torridge Green Party learned of the death late in December of Rosemary Gent, our steering committee member and parish councillor for Littleham and Landcross. Rosemary had a distinguished career in the world of classical music as artistic administrator of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1994-99) before returning to the UK to take up the same role at the BBC Proms, whose controller Nicholas Kenyon described her as “the eyes and ears” of the world-famous festival.
After a decade at the Proms, she moved to Devon and for nine years was a full-time carer for her mother. She freelanced as an arts administrator and also brought her formidable organisational talents to bear as an active Green Party member, a candidate in district council elections, and from 2021 as a parish councillor. Rosemary was proud of, yet always modest about, her work on Littleham and Landcross PC, where – among other projects – she helped lead discussion on the Neighbourhood Plan, took part in a survey of public footpaths and bridleways, and fought tirelessly for the protection of mature trees and the planting of saplings. She also served as secretary of the community biodiversity group. The second Wilder Littleham and Landcross event held in March last year was attended by over 100 people. It included talks on no-dig gardening, pond dipping and the presentation of results from a citizen-science wildlife survey.
Rosemary will be much missed by those who worked with her in the Green Party. Her quiet determination and commitment to climate justice made a real difference to her community and inspired others to get involved in protecting our planet.
Here is Rosemary’s impressive CV:
Freelance arts consultant/researcher/administrator
Apr 2011 – Present · 12 yrs 10 mo
Devon, UK
Primarily classical music projects, with special interests in singers, young artists, contemporary music and orchestral repertoire
Artistic Administrator
BBC Proms
Nov 1999 – May 2010 · 10 yrs 7 mo
London, United Kingdom
Artistic Administrator
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Jan 1994 – Oct 1999 · 5 yrs 10 mo
Los Angeles, CA
Artistic Co-ordinator
London Sinfonietta
Jan 1982 – Oct 1993 · 11 yrs 10 mo
London, United Kingdom
Production Secretary
BBC Radio 3
Apr 1979 – Dec 1981 · 2 yrs 9 mo
London, United Kingdom
Royal Academy of Music
LRAM, Singing teaching
1977 – 1977
University of Nottingham
BA(Hons), Music, Linguistics
1973 – 1978