University in Riverside in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Philip Brett
(1937-2002)
Philip Brett (1937-2002) was a musician, musicologist, and distinguished professor in the Music department at UC Riverside from 1991 to 2001. A renowned authority on William Byrd and the English Renaissance, he was also instrumental in creating the field of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender/transsexual studies in musicology. Born in England and educated at Cambridge University, he was a professor at UC Berkeley (1966-1990) before coming to UCR to join his partner. George Haggerty, a professor in the English Department. At UCR, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the Music Department and develop a vision for its future. As Associate Dean of the Arts, he played a leading role in creating the Arts Building, so it is fitting that a garden in his honor has been constructed at this site. Philip was an artist who enjoyed gardening, and the Philip Brett Memorial Peace Garden is a place that he would himself have loved. The garden serves as a living testimony to his accomplishments and his exemplary service to music, musicology, and the University of California.
The Philip Brett Memorial Peace Garden was designed in the style of a traditional Japanese dry garden by the celebrated landscape architect Dr. Takeo Uesugi. The garden represents a waterfall and stream, which symbolize the continuity of the music program as it passes from one generation to the next.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Disasters • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.
Location. 33° 58.49′ N, 117° 19.913′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is in University. It can be reached from Kim Wilcox Drive West near University Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Kim Wilcox Drive West, Riverside CA 92507, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles, in the Inland Empire, and in the Peninsular Ranges. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: University Theater (approx. 0.3 miles away); Webber Memorial Cycad Collection (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Oroblanco Grapefruit Tree (approx. half a mile away); Citrus Experiment Station (approx. half a mile away); Mary D. Nichols (approx. half a mile away); Isidore and Marie Claire Camou (approx. 0.6 miles away); Farm House Motel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Weber House (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.
More about this marker. Located on the west side of the Arts Building on the UCR Campus.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 30 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on June 22, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 7, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.





