Irene was born into the music publishing business of C.F. Peters, Leipzig. After leaving school she spent time abroad, learning the business before joining her father as his "eldest son", in his music publishing business, Hinrichsen Edition Ltd. and Peters Edition, London. She opted out in 1960, for marriage to a scientist and motherhood.

Co-founder of the international Philatelic Music Circle, of which she became President, Irene also gained her Open University BA with Honours. She is a linguist and an experienced journalist, author and lecturer.

Irene was Editor for 27 years and then Consultant Editor of the magazine The Baton. She has written articles for magazines, has broadcast and has also contributed to several books, including The Grove Dictionary of Opera.

Irene likes to say that she was re-born in Leipzig – in the former GDR, in November 1991. Becoming involved with her half-Jewish background and working to promote Jewish memory there, has motivated her life since. It led to her researching and writing her highly acclaimed book: ‘MUSIC PUBLISHING AND PATRONAGE – C.F. Peters: 1800 to the Holocaust’ She feels honoured that the late Yehudi Menuhin wrote the Foreword. The book received many excellent reviews.

FIVE HUNDRED YEARS TO AUSCHWITZ – A Family Odyssey from the Inquisition to the Present is Irene Lawford-Hinrichsen’s second major book. Published by Edition Press on 10 October 2008, the best-selling author Richard Zimler wrote:

"I felt safe in your hands, since you obviously have integrated a great deal of knowledge about the subject… Other readers should, I think, feel the same way. You have a fascinating family and I think a great many people should be interested."

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