Teaching

Brunel University



Peter Wiegold has been Professor, Head of Music Research, at Brunel University, London since 2003. Within this role he teaches composition at postgraduate levels and practical and communication skills to undergraduate students. He directs the improvisation ensemble, Brunel new noise.

Brunel has expanded rapidly in the last few years and is becoming a leading European centre for composition and contemporary music. In 2006 Peter was joined by Professors Richard Barrett and Chris Fox, completing a team including composers John Croft, Jonathan Clark, Colin Riley, Harald Muenz, Joe Duddell and performers Sarah Nicolls and Frank Griffith.

With Richard Barrett, he hosts a series of post-graduate seminars and lectures including visiting guest artists; specialists in their fields, such as composer Jonathan Harvey, David Chatterton, RPO contra-bassoon, Carl Rosman (clarinet) and Mark Knoop (piano).

Brunel has built long-term relationships with their ‘associate artists’ including Matthew Barley (‘cello), Piano Circus and the SouthBank Sinfonia.

Peter has spoken and written widely on the developing role of the teacher, conductor and director within the contemporary music scene and gave his Professorial Inaugural lecture at Brunel in 2004. (See Articles and Research for complete text)

In 2006 he received the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship. Awarded by the Higher Education Academy and The Guardian.



Royal Holloway, University of London

In 1996-8 Peter was half-time lecturer in composition, at Royal Holloway, University of London, sharing the post with fellow composer and long-term collaborator John Woolrich.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama

One of his most influential teaching appointments began in 1985, when he became Artistic Director of the innovative ‘Performance and Communication Skills' Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Working alongside Dept. Head, Peter Renshaw, this offered an opportunity to work with a post-graduate ensemble of 15-20 musicians in a completely open curriculum, creating an influential laboratory, into which he brought theatre, Tai Chi, Latin percussion, non-Western music, improvisation, composition and creative leadership.

This pioneering course, much visited and written about was ahead of its time in recognizing and investigating the skills, creative processes, and aesthetic approaches needed for young musicians emerging into the plural culture of today, able to work in adaptable roles, across stylistic boundaries in settings from improvising in a symphony orchestra, to working with non-Western musicians to creatively facilitating children.

Many of the students have themselves gone on to become successful artists and workshop leaders themselves, such as Oren Marshall (tuba) Matthew Barley (‘cellist), Fraser Trainer composer Lincoln Abbotts (flute, BBCSO Learning Manager), Jackie Walduck (composer) Helena Gaunt, (oboe, Wind Department, Guildhall School of Music and Drama), Sean Gregory (Head of Connect, Guildhall), Paul Griffiths (guitar, workshop leader), Tim Steiner (workshop leader).

Sussex University.

Peter’s first University post, (half-time lecturer) 1979-85.

Go to Articles and Research to read more about Peter’s work.