PippaFest: Music grad organises festival in memory of her sister

Music graduate Lara Simpson (2016) is fulfilling the wishes of her late sister by organising a music festival in her memory. 

Pippa Simpson, a talented singer-songwriter, was 25 years old when she died of a brain tumour last year. One of her biggest wishes was for there to be a festival in her name that would raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust - who supported her and her family throughout her illness.  

PippaFest takes place on 4 May at Ghyll Royd School in West Yorkshire and includes performances from LIPA graduates Jalen Ngonda and MT Jones. 

We spoke to Lara about Pippa, the festival, and how organising it has been ‘difficult, but fulfilling’.   

Pippa was an amazing person, just such a friendly, kind-hearted and sociable young girl.  She had a beautiful voice and was a really talented singer-songwriter. She studied music at Goldsmiths but moved to Leeds Conservatoire when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in her first year as she wanted to be nearer to home. She collaborated with some bands in Leeds, but her health problems meant she had to step back from performing. We’ll never know what she might have achieved, so this festival will become her legacy as it was her idea. 

Image: Pippa Simpson

I hope the festival reflects Pippa, her personality and her tastes. There is a lot of music from people she knew personally, artists from LIPA and Leeds that she had connections with. She was passionate about new music, so I’d love it if people came along and discovered their new favourite artist.  

I studied at LIPA at the same time as Jalen Ngonda and he was one of my closest friends. Pippa used to be a regular visitor and also became great friends with Jalen. That’s why we asked him to perform because he got to know Pippa so well. Her wedding song was one of Jalen’s tracks and he came to play for Pippa on her birthday last year while she was in hospital. He’s been amazing and we’re so happy he can perform an acoustic set. We’re really lucky to have another LIPA graduate MT Jones at the festival. He’s another of mine and Pippa’s close friends, and he’s doing amazingly well. 

Images: Jalen Ngonda and MT Jones

Teenage Cancer Trust made a huge difference to Pippa and our family when she was being treated in hospital. She had a dedicated specialist nurse, who was completely financed by the charity, who was on call for her at any time. At the hospital Teenage Cancer Trust have created a lounge where patients and their families could spend time together with a bit more privacy. It was a lovely big room with TVs, sofas, tea, coffee and snacks. It was where Jalen was able to perform for her on her birthday. We spent a lot of time in that room. It made a real difference.  

Organising PippaFest has been a bittersweet experience. The whole reason we’re doing it is tragic, hearbreaking and really upsetting. But we also know we’re fulfilling her wishes, doing something that she wanted and raising money for an amazing charity. It’s shaping up to be an amazing day with all the artists and music she loved so much.   

I hope the festival keeps Pippa’s memory alive and that people who knew her are able to spend some time thinking about her. But most of all I want them to have a good time because that’s what Pippa would have wanted. 

LIPA was such a lovely community to be part of. That was the best thing – the people. I’ve worked with so many other graduates, whether it’s been a brass player to play on one of my recordings or a manager booking me to perform at an event. It’s a readymade supportive network.  

Image: Lara Simpson

Since leaving LIPA Lara has worked as a freelance violinist in Liverpool and as part of an electric string trio on cruises. Post pandemic she was offered a scholarship at Berklee College of Music, Valencia where she graduated with a masters in scoring for film, TV and video games. She is now based in London working as a violinist/composer and arranger for visual media.   

PippaFest: find out more and book tickets