Tributes
Rheda-Wiedenbrück In December 2024
Dear Mrs Noretta Conci,
we are in deep sadness about the death of your beloved and estimated husband John and want to express our deepest sympathy. He was such a great person!
You, dear Mrs Conci, and your husband John as Co-Founder of the Keyboard Trust, together you brought your piano foundation to such a great success. You shared your life generously with so many talented young musicians. You supported them on their way into sound carreers as pianists. And this is so important since so numerous young people all over the world try to get up to the top. Your Keyboard Charitable Trust, due to your immense engagement, is so precious for the young upcoming artists.
We wish you, dear Mrs Conci and your daughter Caroline von Reitzenstein all the strength you really need to find a way to cope with this great loss and all the wonderful memories of the time you spent together will hopefully help to overcome the dark times of sorrow.
Our deep thoughts are with you, dear Mrs Conci and with your daughter Caroline.
Truly Yours,
Inge and Bernd Jostkleigrewe
From Roberto Doring Pinho da Silva to Sarah Biggs
Dear Sarah,
Please allow me to join you, João Marcos and so many others in mourning, and paying tribute to, our beloved John. He -- and indeed his smile -- will undoubtedly live on and keep inspiring us as we continue to navigate this difficult world of ours. His passion for music and for life at its finest remains a source of motivation for all those who had the privilege of having crossed paths with him.
I would kindly ask you to pass on my message to Noretta and the whole family.
Let us make sure the collaboration we have endeavoured to put in place between The Keyboard Trust and the Embassy of Brazil should continue to thrive for many years to come and more.
With all my best wishes,
Roberto.
From Roger Rosen to Sarah Biggs
Hello Sarah:
Thank you so much for alerting me to John's passing and the link for the live streaming of Friday's service which I attended online. I have over the years come to regard John as a great man and I can extol many of his virtues-- as many did beautifully on Friday-- but of all his gifts, his kindness must be regarded as supreme. I shall miss him. He had the foresight, however, to ensure that his and Noretta's legacy live on. He also was astonishingly clear-minded and astute to the very end, making you CEO of the Trust. I know how capable you are and have heard wonderful words of praise from Caroline. Let me reaffirm my commitment to the work and please don't hesitate to turn to me when I can be of help, albeit from a distance. I have been in close touch with Caroline and will certainly come for the Memorial Service in London. Caroline is thinking of mid February. It will be very nice to see you again at that time. Until then, I hope your sorrow is mitigated by the many demonstrations of love and respect for John that must be coming your way.
Warmly, Roger
From Wissam Boustany to Sarah Biggs
Bless John’s heart…he made such a difference to so many young musicians’ lives.
Speak to you soon, Sarah.
Love
Wissam
From Dietlinde Maazel
Your Dear Father - My Sincere Condolences
Dearest Caroline,
It is indeed incredibly sad news to learn about your father's passing.
But I suppose it would be his wish that we focus on celebrating his life and everything he did for the world of music and, thus, the human spirit!
Even though we all got the notion that your father was increasingly frail, naturally so, we all imagined him to be around for his 100th birthday and then some...
May he rest in peace! He did so much! And he overcame so much, starting with his background in Germany at the most dangerous times of Germany's history.
The parralells - now - are mindburgling. I wished I could have this conversation with him now: how should we deal with the impending dictatorship that awaits us in the US?? - Leave the sinking ship or fight?
I have huge regrets about not contacting him in the past years. We were so close! I was his "Toechterlein" (little daughter), as he fancied to call me. We had lots of conversations, also post-Lorin.
I sincerely hope he knew (through you and Sarah) that I was often thinking about him and Noretta, and being grateful for our ongoing Keyboard Trust Relationship at Castleton, presenting all these inspiring pianists year after year.
I hesitate to write to Noretta given her present state (and she must be in shock!) - and I wouldn't even know how to reach her directly. But if you could guide me in that regard, I would greatly appreciate it.
The world lost a great, kind, and caring man. But I believe it is not a "loss" as long as we care, treasure, and think about him!
He will be present! At every concert, given everywhere.
Tony and I will be joining the Funeral on Friday from afar.
With a warm, loving hug to you,
Dietlinde
From Fiona Meadley to Caroline
Dear CarolineThe moving tributes and music brought back many happy memories of John, and I’ve been inspired to write some of them down. I have drawn from my years working with your father in the developing world. Having read the extracts on the webpage you have created for him, I realise they were a significant time for him too.
Regards
Fiona (Meadley)
From Klaus Becher -
Thank you for this wonderful site to remember John. An absolutely exceptional, most generous man. About twenty years ago, he shared some of his precious time with me in a number of meetings.
From Riddelle Olivier who has known John since they were living in Africa in 1963
No words
My dearest Caroline,
As individual as we all are .. along with many many people that knew and loved John
there will be a myriad of images and memories imprinted on each and every one of us...
of a extraordinary human being and of a life well lived...
Your dearest father will forever and always be walking by your side...
A man so full of wisdom grace and understanding of the human condition.
His Humanity and Integrity seldom to be found elsewhere...
His engaging quiet and gentle humour embraced those in his presence...
His profound patience and focus on the many roads and pathways he trod....
That is his legacy to you...
As you tread the unknown highways ahead his strength and support and ever watchful eye
will live on in you..
You are a strong courageous and a beautiful woman....
As always unending love and prayers at this challenging time.
Riddelle xxx
A man of such humility of honour and integrity..
From Aseem Thapar to Sarah Biggs
Respected Sarah
I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news about the death of mr John leech in london one of my very dear respected family friend
I have had been connected to him and his wife mrs noretta John for almost more than 3 decades mr leech was also one of the directors on the board of my company in india for several years
I have not heard from mr leech for past about an year usually I would meet him during my visit to london at their home in mews with my family
We are deeply saddened to hear the sad news of his death pray his pious rest in peace in heaven
He was one of the most respected and beautiful souls that I knew of and so is his wife on this earth
Warm regards
Aseem Thapar
From Marco Gambino
Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
from Cymbeline, Shakespeare
Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.
From Evgeny Kissin
Dear Caroline,
Many, many most heartfelt condolences to you from our whole family. We all know what it’s like to lose the father. Alas, this is the way of life, and we all have to go through this sooner or later… Hope you are surrounded by good people in these hard times. Lots of strength and courage to you — and blessed be your dear father’s memory.
😘
Yours ever,
Zhenya.
Francesco Libetta with Noretta
From Annette Austin to Sarah Biggs
Dear Sarah
Thank you for sharing the sad news on the passing of John Leech. While we did not know him well, we saw him as a lovely man full of enthusiasm for music and the importance of supporting the Keyboard Trust. He has left a wonderful legacy, ably supported by Noretta, that should be preserved and supported for future young musicians.
With kind regards
Annette and Oscar
From João Marcos Paes Leme to Sarah Biggs
Dear Sarah, Christopher and the Keyboard Trust family,
I was already deeply saddened by the message before opening it, as I understood from its subject the news it would bring. Then I saw John Leech’s smile — and immediately thought of his fantastic legacy, his lifelong dedication to music, the bridges he helped build with Brazil, which we at the Embassy on Cockspur Street were always overjoyed to support. And then his smiling picture made me smile too.
As Sarah and Christopher probably remember, I worked at that Embassy twice; and now, having left London over a year ago, some of my fondest memories are those of our gorgeous Sala Brasil filled with music, often thanks to a fantastic partnership we started building together back in 2013 or 2014. Pablo Rossi, a pianist of incredible talent, played a major part in connecting us all. And later Roberto Doring, another dear friend, understood the beauty of that connection and put our team at the Embassy to work hard and make that flame burn brighter still.
The picture of Sala Brasil at its best is only complete with John and Noretta sitting at the front row. That is the picture I will always keep with me.
João Marcos Paes Leme
From Clare Pakenham
Dear Caroline,
You won’t remember me since we only met once - at your father’s 90th birthday in Bologna - and there were so many people there… I also know all too well that these are times when no words are adequate, when nothing anyone can say makes any difference, and when only music can express the totality of desolation, loss, relief for the sufferer to have escaped at last, fond memories, gratitude for the time one was able to spend with them, amazement and pride at their extraordinary life - and your father’s was extraordinary - and the joy and fabulous contribution they gave to all of us who knew them. You must be drained emotionally. I am so very sorry. I wish I could help but I know I cannot. Your father was irreplaceable (not just for you as his daughter although more for you than anyone else), but for all of us.
I only knew your father for a quarter of a century - not long enough, not long at all, only a tiny part of his life and not nearly enough of mine; but from the first meeting I loved him and admired him and was riveted by his thoughts and comments not just on music - in fact, often on totally other subjects. He was the best company, the most brilliantly illuminating mind on all the subjects in which I am interested. I truly LOVED his company and enormously appreciated his views on world affairs, history, books - novels and non fiction alike - and on the curiosities of human life. He was an exceptional person, a remarkable one; and to add to this remarkable person, he was also the most elegant (in every way: manners, dress, judgements, his very soul…) of any man or woman I ever met. I have known - as I am sure you have - some remarkable, intelligent, gracious and affectionate, interesting people in my time but your father was, for me (and I believe for everyone who met him) the epitome, the personification, of graciousness, exquisite manners, multicultural and broad-minded, international, thoughtful, reasoning judgements... plus that ineffable charm... I am sure I shall never - to my despair and utter sadness - meet anyone like him ever again.
My heart goes out to you. I wish so much that I could remove the tiniest jot of the pain and loss you must be going through.
PLEASE DON’T feel you have to answer. I know how much - actually, I dread to think how much - you have to do, answer, organise, without having to answer this. You can feel, I hope, that I understand and do not want you to waste a second of your time on replying.
If I can do anything for you or for Noretta, then that would be the time to contact me.
With every ounce of strength and support and virtual hugs I can send you,
Clare Pakenham