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Conductor Peter Leech (b.1967) has established a reputation in the UK and internationally as a talented interpreter of a variety of choral
and orchestral repertoire, ranging from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary music. He has been widely acclaimed for performances characterised by a potent mix of energy and informed scholarship combined with natural musicianship
and stylistic sensitivity. After arriving in the UK in 1996 Peter's career has flourished with musical directorships of Aylesbury Choral Society (from 2004), Bristol Bach Choir
(from 1999), Yeovil Chamber Choir (2004-05), City of Oxford Choir (1998-2005), Chandos Chamber Choir (2000-02) and Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford (1997-99). In 2003 Peter won First Prize at the Mariele
Ventre International Competition for Choral Conductors, held in Bologna, Italy. The prize included the Silver Cup of the Italian Republic for an outstanding cultural achievement. His success has led to a guest appearance directing
the Coro di Euridice of Bologna at the 2005 Ravenna Festival. Under Peter's leadership, Bristol Bach Choir was chosen as one of the choirs taking part in the 2005 Mariele Ventre
competition. Their visit to Bologna included concerts with Peter and masterclasses with leading Italian choral conductor and technician Lorenzo Donati. In 2003 and 2004 Peter was Guest Chorus Master with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus
in Glasgow, with whom he prepared repertoire for some of the world's leading conductors, including Walter Weller (Mahler, Symphony No 2), Frederic Chaslin (Ravel, Daphis et Chloe) and Marin Alsop, (Edward Collins, Hymn to the Earth, for a recording on the Albany label).
Peter has also appeared as Guest Conductor with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong
(2002), Bristol Philharmonic Orchestra (2001) and Esterhazy Chamber Choir and Orchestra (2000). He has also been guest Chorus Master for the Frome Festival and tutor for the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Peter has maintained a close working relationship with the Oxford-based Frideswide Ensemble (on period instruments) since 1999. Performances of major Romantic choral works have led to his working with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra (2004) and Stowe Opera Orchestra (2005).
Never afraid to challenge audiences with new concert music in a range of styles and periods, Peter has earned a special place in the cultural life in many of the cities in which he has worked with his versatility
and imagination. He has directed world premieres of new compositions by British and Australian composers, including Jonathan Lloyd, Ian Higginson, Richard Pantcheff, Deborah Rose, Andrew Batterham, Tristram Cary, David Young, Scott
McIntyre, Charli Holoubek, Bill Hughes, Maxine Bradshaw, John Polglase and Ed Elksnitis, to name but a few. Peter has also directed UK and Australian modern premiere performances of neglected instrumental and choral
works by Attilio Ariosti, Pierre van Maldere, Samuel Wesley, Innocenzo Fede, Thomas Linley Junior, Thomas Arne, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Matthew Locke, Gottfried Finger, Jacques Paisible, Handel and many more composers from the
Baroque to Romantic periods. A distinguished scholar as well as a performer, with articles published in Early Music and The Revised New Grove, Peter was awarded a Ph.D in musicology from Anglia
Polytechnic University in 2004 for his ground-breaking thesis Music and Musicians in the Stuart Catholic Courts, 1660-1718. Challenging his ensembles to achieve the highest possible standards, Peter has
produced several exciting recordings (including world premieres) which are featured separately. The ensembles under his direction have been acclaimed in the British and Australian press. As well as concert activity,
Peter undertakes numerous choral workshops around the UK and has brought a wealth of new repertoire to enthusiastic singers in Oxford, Cheltenham, Bristol, Long Melford, Lancaster, London and many other towns. Peter
is a graduate of the Universities of Adelaide, Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts. Prior to his arrival in the United Kingdom in 1996 he had been Musical Director (either as a permanent or guest conductor) of several
leading Australian musical ensembles, including The Tudor Choristers of Melbourne, Ensemble Eszterhaza, Libra Contemporary Ensemble, Geminiani Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, New Holland Baroque and The Song Company.
He also worked with The Melbourne Chorale, Adelaide Chorus, St.Peter's Baroque Players, Adelaide University Choral Society, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir, Handel Bande, Caulfield City Choir and Australian Girls Choir. Peter was appointed as the first Director of Music at St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, in 1993. During his tenure he re-established the Cathedral as a centre of music making in Adelaide, promoting numerous outreach
arts projects involving choirs and orchestras from around Australia. He was also a regular Guest Conductor with the Barossa Music Festival and Melbourne International Festival of Organ and Harpsichord. In 1994 Peter
won the Henry Krips Scholarship with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, leading to his being chosen as a finalist in the ABC Young Conductor's Masterclass of the same year and an appearance with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Peter's awards for musical achievements include the Hooper Brewster Jones and Ruby Davy Prizes for Composition in 1987 and 1988 (Elder Conservatorium) and the Adelaide Choral Society Prize (1989). He was also a
finalist in the 1992 Channel 10 (Australia) Young Achiever's Awards. In the same year, collaborating with Melbourne-based Gas Theatre, he received a Queen's Trust grant for an innovative contemporary theatrical production of
Handel's semi-opera Alceste. Email Peter Leech web site: www.cappellafede.com |
