Peter Godfrey: Father of New Zealand Choral Music

About

‘Immeasurable’ describes Peter Godfrey’s wide influence on choral music in New Zealand. The only person to have been chorister, choral scholar and director of music at King’s College, Cambridge, Peter brought those exacting standards to choirs in this country in 1959, developing them to international standard.

He began at St Mary’s Cathedral in Auckland, and went on to conduct the Dorian, National Youth & Wellington Cathedral choirs. Peter’s influence continues through a new generation of conductors, and the work of the NZ Choral Federation he established.

Peter Godfrey: Father of New Zealand choral music draws on conversations with Peter himself, colleagues, friends and pupils throughout his life – people such as Allan Thomas, Reverend John Goodman and Professor Peter King.

Peter also recalls encounters and friendships with seminal composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten, and tenor Sir Peter Pears.

-Makaro Press

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