Brian Priestman

Brian Priestman (10 February 1927 – 18 April 2014) was a British conductor and music educator.

He founded the New York Handel Opera Society and appeared frequently at the Mostly Mozart concerts there as well as for seven years at the Aspen Music Festival and seven at the Grant Park, Chicago, Festival.

As an academic he was Dean of the Faculty of Music and Professor at the University of Cape Town (1980–1986) and Artist-in-residence at the University of Kansas (1992–2002) and for three years was Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (1967–1969).

Priestman wrote articles in music periodicals and encyclopedias including the New Grove Encyclopedia, Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Encyclopædia Britannica, and Music and Letters.

He was awarded the Golden Lyre by the American Institute of High Fidelity for services to music in the United States.