Leopold David de Rothschild - Biography

Leopold David de Rothschild, CBE, FRCM (born 12 May 1927) is a British financier, musician, and a member of the Rothschild banking family of England.

Leopold David is the fourth and youngest child and second son of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882–1942) and Marie Louise Eugénie Beer (1892–1975). From childhood he had a fondness for music and became an accomplished pianist and violinist. As a vocalist, he sang with The Bach Choir of London for many years and would later serve as its President. While in his teens, he joined the Royal Navy, serving for two years. He went to work at Kuhn, Loeb & Co., as well as at Morgan Stanley and Glyn, Mills & Co. before becoming a partner at his family's N M Rothschild & Sons in 1956.

While he has had a long and successful career in banking, his love of music and the arts played an important role in his life. An honorary member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, among his many involvements, Leopold de Rothschild has served as:

• Music Advisory Committee of the British Council - Chairman
• English Chamber Orchestra - President
• Glyndebourne Arts Trust - Trustee
• Jewish Music Institute, SOAS, University of London - Co-President
• Royal College of Music - Council Chairman and Independent adviser
• Voices Foundation - founding member, and a member of the Consultative Council
• Countess of Munster Musical Trust - Chairman
• Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry [Science Museum], London and the National Railway Museum, York
• Tring Park School for the Performing Arts - President

Among his philanthropic works, through his "Leopold de Rothschild Charitable Trust" he contributes to numerous charities including the St John's Hospice for the terminally ill. In addition, his Charitable Trust provides support to the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, the Rambert Dance Company, and provides scholarships for students to study at the Royal College of Music of which he is a Fellow (FRCM) and past Council Chairman.