International bassoonist and bassoon teacherPeter Musson Born Auckland 21st May 1940 Died Brisbane 8th April 2022 was a principal Bassoonist in the

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is an Australian symphony orchestra in the state of Queensland. The orchestra is based in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's building in South Bank. The Orchestra is funded by private corporations, t ...

and Senior Lecturer in Bassoon at the

Queensland Conservatorium Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (formerly the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is a selective, audition based music school located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is part of Griffith University. History The Conservatori ...

and was a soloist and member of chamber music ensembles.

Background

Education: Auckland Grammar School and St Peter's College, Auckland St Peter's College. Peter gained a reputation as a child prodigy on clarinet, studying with George Hopkins, later moving to bassoon. In 1956, he auditioned for a position with the NZBC orchestra under James Robertson, the resident conductor of the orchestra, (who had instituted a policy of regular auditioning and reauditioning). Musson was appointed and, at the age of 16, became the youngest ever member of the NZBC Symphony Orchestra

Professional career

Peter remained with the NZBC Symphony Orchestra for twelve years (June 1956-March 1967), becoming Principal Bassoonist and also a member of the New Zealand Wind Quintet. In 1967 he left New Zealand in order to broaden his musical experience and travelled widely. After a period as a free-lance player in London he was appointed to Principal Bassoon positions with in turn, the

Ulster Orchestra The Ulster Orchestra, based in Belfast, is the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall. It also gives concerts across the United K ...

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

, the Durban Symphony Orchestra in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

, the Niederrhein Sinfoniker in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

and the

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...

. Peter also appeared as Guest Principal with such orchestras as London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gurzenich Orchestra of

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...

, the

Australian Chamber Orchestra The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) was founded by cellist John Painter in 1975.Verghis, Sharon"Bach with more bite pays off" ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 2 September 2005. Richard Tognetti was appointed Lead Violin in 1989 and subsequently appo ...

, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed widely as a soloist and as a member of chamber music ensembles.

Teaching

Peter also had a very successful teaching career with former students having held professional playing and teaching positions on four continents.for example, Paul Rodgers, fmr Principal Durban SO, Judy Wood, fmr Principal Queensland Philharmonic, Leesa Dean, fmr Principal QSO, Mark Gaydon, Principal Adelaide SO, Leah Stephenson, 2nd bassoon Adelaide SO, Claire Ramuscak, Australian Chamber Ensemble and QSO.
/ref> He has been on staff at the Belfast School of Music, the

Krefeld Krefeld ( , ; li, Krieëvel ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, i ...

Musikschule and the

where he was Senior Lecturer in Bassoon and Chamber Music until 2002.

Family

Children: Donna, Paul, Guy, Svetlana, Vladimir

Discography

"From Fire by Fire" Queensland Wind Soloists 4MBS 1990 "William Hurlstone Chamber Music" Continuum 2001

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musson, Peter 1940 births People from Auckland People educated at St Peter's College, Auckland Living people New Zealand musicians New Zealand classical bassoonists Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University faculty New Zealand Symphony Orchestra people New Zealand expatriates in the United Kingdom New Zealand expatriates in South Africa New Zealand expatriates in Germany New Zealand expatriates in Australia