Peter Smith
Composer
Peter Smith was born in South London, where he still lives. He attended Raynes Park Grammar (now High) School, and Trinity College of Music, where he was a Junior Exhibitioner. His education continued at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he read Modern Languages and Music; his music teachers included David Willcocks, Richard Marlow, Philip Radcliffe, and Peter Tranchell.
He spent most of his adult life working as an accountant, and his career included spells at the Royal Opera House, the Royal College of Art, and as Finance Director of a charity run by the Freemasons (though not a Mason himself). He retired in 2016.
In 1976 he founded what is now Wimbledon Chamber Choir, of which he is still the conductor. During its existence, the choir has performed a huge variety of music, both with and without accompaniment, including a number of Peter’s own compositions. In 2016 the choir celebrated its 40th anniversary with performances of Tallis’s 40-part motet Spem in Alium.
Peter Smith is also an organist, and plays the T. C. Lewis organ in Christ Church, Clapham. He is married with one daughter and three cats.
Biographical Details
- Year of birth: 1952
- Website: http://montecristoopera.co.uk/
Works by Peter Smith
- Breathe on me, Breath of God
- Fantasia on “Come Ye Faithful”
- Partita on “O Worship the King”
- Toccata
- Twelve Hymn Preludes
Festival performances of works by Peter Smith
Call for Scores submission
LFCCM 2024
- “Cymbals and Dances” on Friday 17 May 2024 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2023
- LFCCM @ Home Choral Evensong on Wednesday 17 May 2023 (online stream/broadcast)
LFCCM 2022
- “Cymbals and Dances” on Tuesday 10 May 2022 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2021
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 16 May 2021 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 23 May 2021 at St George’s Bloomsbury
Recorded performances of works by Peter Smith
LFCCM 2024
- Fantasia on “Come Ye Faithful” performed by Martyn Noble Organ
- Partita on “O Worship the King” performed by Martyn Noble Organ
LFCCM 2021
- Toccata performed by Peter Foggitt Organ