Imogen Holst (1907–1984) was a multifaceted British composer, conductor, and educator who left an indelible mark on 20th-century music through her dedication to community music-making and her leadership in major arts institutions. The only child of composer Gustav Holst, she initially excelled as a student at the Royal College of Music, winning the Cobbett Prize for her Phantasy Quartet in 1928. Her teaching career was defined by her "learning by doing" philosophy, most notably during her tenure at Dartington Hall (1942–1951), where she transformed the music department into a premier educational center. She later became a pivotal figure at the Aldeburgh Festival, serving as joint Artistic Director for over 20 years and working as a close musical collaborator to Benjamin Britten. She worked tirelessly to preserve her father's legacy, authoring his definitive biography and cataloging his works. She also wrote and published a significant catalog of musical compositions, and she was one of the few women working actively in her time as a conductor, both of choral and instrumental ensembles.

This May, Radix will present the Oregon premiere of Holst’s “Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow” for treble choir and harp, commissioned for the 1950 Aldeburgh Festival by Benjamin Britten.