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PETER BEAVEN’S WEBSITE
                 

photo: Alan Holland-Avery FRPS

PETER BEAVEN
    Peter Beaven was born in Devon, England but received his early musical education in London. He studied organ privately with

            Douglas Hawkridge before entering Trinity College of Music where his teachers included Dr Harry Gabb,

            Charles Proctor (choral conducting), Bernard Keeffe (orchestral conducting) and James Gaddarn.

            Following graduation and for thirteen years, he taught organ and musicianship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

            whilst pursuing a freelance playing and conducting career.
            Since that time Peter Beaven has gained an admirable reputation in the UK and abroad for possessing wide-ranging skills.

            Since the early days of his career, he has branched out into arranging and composing, and his reputation as one of the finest

            choral conductors in the UK has gained plaudits worldwide. For two years he was senior conducting clinician of the

            St Paul's Experience, a high powered intensive week for singers, organists and choral directors held at St Paul's Cathedral, London.

            His work with choirs, both professional and amateur has been extensive. He has worked closely with such groups as the,

            The Wren Singers of London (of whom he was Assistant Conductor), the Peter Beaven Singers and Orchestra, Feltham Choral Society,

            Norwood Green Choral Society and  Ashford Choral Society.

            He worked closely with the American virtuoso organist CARLO CURLEY, as arranger and conductor of his Christmas Gala Concerts

            in London during the 1990s.

            Peter Beaven and Carlo Curley and Ashford Choral Society collaborated on the production of a highly popular and successful

            CD of Christmas Music Joy to the World
            His diverse musical interests have involved him in directing American musicals in London and appearing on stage in

            Handel Opera in the Bath Festival - to taking the solo organ part in a performance of the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony at Southwark

            Cathedral as part of the Save Guys Campaign. In 1992 he was comissioned to re-write and arrange a musical about Christopher Wren.
            His work in church music has been extensive. From holding several organist posts in London, most notably, Director of Music at

            Chiswick Parish Church, to singing with St Paul's Cathedral Choir; from directing church choir festivals, to working on a project with

            the Ouseley Trust to further the cause of fine church music in the Church of England.
            Having completed a commission in the Millennium year to write a setting of the Mass for ECUSA, he embarked on a large-scale work

            for soloists, choir and orchestra, using texts drawn from the Latin Requiem, the Holy Qur'an and several other sources.

            Sadly, he felt compelled to shelve this after the events of September 2001. As well a full schedule as a performer, composer and

            arranger, Peter Beaven was a frequent contributor and reviewer to various musical journals, most notably Choir and Organ.

            He acted as an advisor to Oxford University Press for their 'New Oxford Easy Anthem Book' and was involved in writing CD programme

            notes for Regent Records’ English Cathedral Series of recordings.
            In 2002 he was appointed Organist and Director of Music at The Royal Memorial Chapel,

            The Royal Military Academy,  Sandhurst (See links below) and was elected a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts

            and Guild of Musicians and Singers.

            He was from its inception, until Spring 2008, President of Spelthorne Young Voices and continues his interest in the work of other

            youth choirs, now acting as advisor to several groups.

                       

                        LATEST NEWS….

 

 

            In late 2007 Peter Beaven was invited to compose liturgical music for Holy Week for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, USA.

           

            He is pleased to be associated with the newly formed group, SURREY VOICES (Conductor: Malcolm Hicks) which make their

            first appearance on 29th June 2008 at Farnham URC, Surrey, with Peter and Carlo Curley as their guest performers.

 

            Later in 2008, and following a highly successful and similar collaboration in 2007, Peter Beaven, with the Choir of the

            Royal Memorial Chapel, with Sub-Organist, Simon Dinsdale will participate in a joint concert with the

            Choir of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace.

 

            In January 2009 the Choir are to record a CD of Christmas Music.

 

            Later in 2009 the Choir is planning to travel to the USA to perform in New York City and State.

 

In 2004 the Choir of The Royal Memorial Chapel, RMAS issued their first compact disc recording entitled “SERVE TO LEAD. The disc features many favourite anthems and items for solo organ played by Peter Beaven. The CD is available from: The Chaplain’s Office, The Royal Memorial Chapel, RMAS, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 4PQ

For further information about the CD, including a few audio clips, click on the CD cover:

 

 

 (Click here for a link to the The Royal Memorial Chapel Website)

 

 

Follow the following link and select Royal Memorial Chapel….

 for a 360 degree panoramic view of the Chapel from the Sandhurst Foundation Website.

 

 

 

 


What the critics say.....................
'Peter Beaven is one of those increasingly rare musicians who is prepared to take in risk in the service of music..... throughout the concert the music was vividly alive, lit by that spark of inspiration that lifts performers out and above themselves.'
(Mozart -Requiem)

'A performance that glowed..... with consistent and high inspiration. I was deeply impressed with this performance'
(Elgar - Dream of Gerontius)

'A thrilling performance.... a most impressive evening, and rewarded with a packed house which roared its approval at the close - and deservedly so.'
(Verdi - Requiem)

 'Dedicated performance.....inspired baton.....deeply moving moments, and the chorus rose to them magnificently'
(Elgar - The Kingdom)

'Mr Beaven and his choir raised their sights to take in the inspiration of the composers in their several ways and in so doing to transport the audience into a deep response born from the conviction of the performances.'
(Elgar - The Spirit of England etc.)

'The resulting sequence was not only enlightening but often deeply moving, particularly under Mr Beaven's inspired direction, for he is not only a fine musician and an excellent choral trainer but a conductor whose interpretations approach greatness at times.'
('The English Choral Tradition - An Historical Panorama of English Cathedral Music)

'Peter Beaven, Ashford Choral's musical director has impeccable Elgarian credentials and he justified them anew with a radiant interpretation.
His forces responded with a will.
The Beethoven 9th is one of the towering peaks of music and, as such, can stand a myriad of different approaches. Peter Beaven's was one of the most thought-provoking I had heard in a long time.... a towering musical edifice. This was a brave and exciting venture and I hope to hear Mr Beaven paying tribute to Beethoven again. He certainly knows what he is doing and how to persuade his forces to realise his vision.'
(Elgar - The Musicmakers and Beethoven - 9th Symphony)

For details of availability etc., please contact: Peter Beaven email:  mailto:Peter@Beaven.org.uk

 

Peter Beaven's Website Index Page:  Click HERE

© Website created by Richard Shurrock 2008