ANAM Set 2024 Composer: Work Title and Instrumentation to be announced.
About the composer:
Peter de Jager (he/they) is a Melbourne-based pianist, harpsichordist and composer, with a wide repertoire spanning standard repertoire, early music, contemporary music, as well as music theatre and cabaret. Career performance highlights include winning the inaugural Australian International Chopin Competition in 2011, thrice attending the Lucerne Festival Academy under the baton and artistic direction of Pierre Boulez, commissioning and performing Chris Dench's massive 98-minute Piano Sonata (for which he won an Art Music Award), performing all five of Xenakis' major keyboard works in a single concert at the Melbourne Festival in 2017, and co-writing and performing Reception: The Musical with actor and writer Bethany Simons.
Peter's compositions have wide-ranging influences: from Byrd, Rachmanino, Ligeti, and Xenakis to Sondheim, Radiohead, Tool, and Tori Amos. He also has a keen interest in Middle Eastern classical music and is currently learning the oud. His compositions have been commissioned by Astra, ANAM, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Speak Percussion, Arcadia Winds, and others.
Peter is currently completing a PhD in Spanish Renaissance keyboard music. He also enjoys fine craft beer and craft chocolate, and watching YouTube videos about maths.