Peter is
highly regarded for the vast contribution which he has made to music during his
career, which has spanned almost 70 years, 40 of them in New Zealand. He is
spoken of with great affection by his peers, and by those with whom he has
worked.
Born in Huntingdon, England on 3rd April 1922, Peter was initially educated
at Bluntisham Church of England School. At nine he entered King's College
School, Cambridge, and was a treble chorister in the King's
College Choir. In 1937 he became a Scholar in Music at Denstone College,
Staffordshire, where he was also school rifle shooting captain, and returned to
Kings College, Cambridge in 1940 as Bass Choral Scholar.
War service as a Captain in the King's African Rifles intervened from 1942
until 1945 when he returned to Cambridge University to continue his studies as
the John Stewart Scholar in Sacred Music. He completed his education during
1946-47 at the Royal College of Music, when he was also Music Master at Felsted
School.
He was Assistant Director of Music at Uppingham School 1947-49, then
Marlborough College, UK until 1954 when he became Director of Music, a post he
held until he left for New Zealand in 1958. Lecturer in Music at Auckland
University (1958-1973) and Director of Music for Auckland Cathedral
(1958-1974) he became in 1974 Professor of Music (Head of Department; Dean of
Music Faculty) until 1982.
Since his arrival in New Zealand Peter has maintained a punishing schedule.
From 1959 to 1968 he was Conductor of the Auckland String Players as it grew
into a full professional orchestra, the Symphonia of Auckland, members of which
went on to form the highly regarded Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He directed
the Dorian Choir from 1961 to 1983, touring throughout the world, and winning
the Mixed Voice class of "Let the Peoples Sing" in 1971.
He led the Auckland University Singers from 1970-82 as they represented New
Zealand at various Festivals around the world. He directed the Auckland
University Choral Society (1968-82) through a challenging repertoire which
included Britten's War Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, the Messiah, Rossini's Stabat
Mater, and major works of Berlioz, Haydn and Delius, accompanied by the New
Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Symphonia.
In 1978 he was invited back to Cambridge to become Acting Director of Music,
Choir of King's College Chapel for the first six months of the year.
Peter was Guest Conductor of The National Youth Choir (1979-82), then
Director of Music and Conductor until 1988, during which time they toured
extensively, winning success in the Youth Class of "Let the People
Sing" (1986) and at Llangollen and Vienna in 1988.
From 1983 to 1989 he was Director of Music at St.
Paul's Cathedral Wellington, and Director of the Orpheus Choir, Wellington,
1984 - 1991. In 1989 he accepted a 2 year posting as Director of Music at Trinity
College, Melbourne. On his return he conducted Cantoris until 1993.
One of Peter's great accomplishments was to found in 1985 the New Zealand
Choral Federation, Te Kotahitanga Manu Reo O Aotearoa, of which he is
President. Consisting of more than 100 member choirs they combined to celebrate
their 10th Anniversary with a performance of Handel's "Israel in
Egypt" in July 1995.
While Church music has remained his first love he has always been involved
with community choirs, and since 1992 has been Director of the all-comers Kapiti
Chorale, a choir of more than 100 members.
In recognition of his contribution to music Peter was created CBE in 1978. He
continues to be involved in directing, conducting and organising choral
activities when not working in his beloved garden in Waikanae, a seaside
township near Wellington.