PETER MATHEWS
Peter Mathews was born in Vancouver,
B. C. in 1944 and studied violin and piano under the Toronto
Conservatory system. He received a Licentiate Diploma in Piano
Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and an undergraduate
music degree at Andrews University in Michigan. His graduate
studies include both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in
conducting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City where he
worked with Eph Ehly.
Dr. Mathews conducts choirs, teaches
piano, music history, theory, composition, orchestration and form and
analysis, and has served as composer-in-residence to several churches
while serving as a staff singer. Since 1999 he has served as
Choirmaster for St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in DeLand, Florida.
He is currently teaching at Jacksonville University, the University of
North Florida and at Florida School of the Arts in Palatka.
As a conductor and workshop
clinician, Dr. Mathews conducted a commissioned work at the 1993
Southeast Regional Convention of the American Guild of Organists. The
1994 Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida Choir Festival also featured
the composer in this dual capacity. In 1999 Dr. Mathews was
awarded the anthem commission for the 49th Annual Sewanee Church Music
Conference, long recognized for excellence by the Episcopal Church
Standing Commission on Church Music. In January 2000, he
conducted two commissioned choral premieres at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church – Augusta, Georgia as part of their 250th anniversary
celebration. In April 2004, a fanfare for brass and organ and an
anthem were commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the First
Congregational Church in St. Joseph, Michigan. His music is
regularly performed at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, and
in 2005 he completed a two-part treble Missa Brevis setting for their
childrens’ choirs and organ for their European tour during the
Christmas season.
Commissioned works of Peter Mathews
continue to gain exposure through live performance and compact disc
projects for the choirs of Edith Ho (Church of the Advent, Boston),
Anton Armstrong (St. Olaf College) and David Brensinger (Atlanta
Singers). The 1994 Florida All-State High School Chorus, Boston's
Youth Pro Musica, DePauw University, Stetson University and the
Vancouver Chamber Choir have included works by Peter Mathews in their
choirs' concerts and tours. His liturgical music was featured in June
2000 at the Regional Convention of the National Association of Pastoral
Musicians held in Orlando, Florida. In 2006, the Centaur label
will put out a CD with his “Four Seasons” for cello and organ,
performed by Donald Moline, Chicago Symphony cellist, and organist
Ricardo Ramirez. His work has also been recorded by the
Murray-Lohuis Duo.
Dr. Mathews has written 180
compositions of which over 75 are published by Alliance, Choristers
Guild, H.W. Gray, Kjos, Lawson-Gould, Lorenz,
MorningStar, St. James Press, and Southern.
All his unpublished works have been
engraved on Sibelius and are available from the composer. He is
also available to engrave music for other composers and
publishers. While composing music for worship, his commissions
have also included art songs and chamber music with voice and
instruments in varying combinations. A list of these publications
is available upon request.
For additional information or to
arrange commissions, please contact:
126 Timber Lane, Palatka,
FL
32177
Tel. (386) 312-0001
E-Mail: Roundlake126@aol.com
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