His first degree was in clarinet performance and composition at the University of Otago, and he was a clarinettist in the National Youth Orchestra of New Zealand and in the Dunedin Sinfonia. A Commonwealth Scholarship took him to London and King’s College where he completed an MMus in Theory and Analysis with Jonathan Dunsby and Arnold Whittall, and studied clarinet with Georgina Dobree and conducting with John Carewe. Since returning to New Zealand to take up his post at Otago, Peter has built a fine reputation as a musical leader in the local community, and as a conductor and musical director working all around New Zealand.