Peter Wiegold was born 1949 in Ilford, Essex. After leaving Durham University he became Composer-in-Residence at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, and became one of the pioneers of creative workshop leading in Britain involving children, actors, dancers, professional musicians, and non-musicians in practical, creative music -making. Soon after this he was appointed lecturer in composition at Sussex University (1979).
In 1985 he became Artistic Director of the innovative ‘Performance and Communication Skills’ Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. This offered an opportunity to work with a post-graduate ensemble of 15-20 musicians in a completely open curriculum, into which he was able to bring theatre, Tai Chi, Latin percussion, non-Western music, improvisation, composition, creative leadership, thoroughly investigating and exploring the skills, creative processes, and aesthetic approaches needed for young musicians emerging into the plural culture of today.
Ensembles and orchestras Peter has worked with since 2002 include the London Sinfonietta, bcmg, Endymion Ensemble, Northern Sinfonia and Southbank Sinfonia. In the summer of 2002 he directed the Composers Ensemble in a Proms Portrait of Pierre Boulez in the presence of the composer. He has also conducted at home and internationally for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Joensuu Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia and Orchestra Camarata Labacensis, Slovenia. Peter opened the Cologne Triannual Festival in 2007, with a performance of Berio’s Accordo.
