Deborah Roberts was described by her family as an inspiration and a pivotal member of the music community. She once sang in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
Deborah, who died on September 9, pioneered “early music” from the medieval and Renaissance periods and co-founded the Brighton Early Music Festival.
Her son Joe Erber said she “sang from the heart” and inspired his own route into music.
Joe, 39, said: “I feel immensely proud as her son.
“She taught me so many values of being intellectually curious and empowered my sense of social justice and my belief in it.
“She was both a very academic, intellectual person but was also equipped with a beautiful voice. She sang from the heart.”
Deborah, who was originally from London but moved to Brighton, co-founded the Brighton Early Music Festival in 2002 with Clare Norburn and was a member of the Tallis Scholars, an ensemble who have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House and Sistine Chapel.
Her love for the music began in her mid-teens and she graduated from Nottingham University with a Master’s degree in interpreting Renaissance and Baroque music.
Joe said she and his father were major inspirations for him to become a musician and composer.
Deborah was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours for her contributions to music, something Joe said was “very moving” as she picked up the awards weeks before going into hospice care.
He added: “She was not very good at taking the credit for herself and she accepted the medal on behalf of the whole festival.
“She deserved it on her own merits but that was very telling of her compassion and selflessness.
“People knew she did not have long left so it was a beautiful farewell. She gave a real barnstorming acceptance speech despite weeks from going into a hospice.”
Deborah is survived by Joe, her partner Maurice, siblings Dinah, Edwina and Tony, and her cat Tigger.
Brighton Early Music Festival said a memorial event would be held for her at a later date.
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