Peter Constant
Peter Constant is one of the new breed of fine young guitarists this country has produced in recent years, with a solo performing career extending to Italy, America and Holland as well as to capital cities and regional centres across Australia.
Peter Constant is well established as one of Australia’s most active and respected classical guitarists. A student of Timothy Kain, he was ‘most outstanding graduate’ of the Canberra School of Music, and later took a Master’s degree with Benjamin Verdery at Yale University. He holds a Harkness Fellowship and is a Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London. He has won all sections of the Australian Guitar Competition and has performed extensively throughout Australia, as well as in the USA, Asia and Europe.
His concert work has ranged from a duo recital with Baroque violinist Jaap Schroeder to many premiere performances. He is a founding member of Guitar Trek, the popular ensemble whose pioneering ‘guitar family’ concept is recognised internationally as a major new direction for the instrument. Guitar Trek tours regularly in Australia and Asia for Musica Viva and was preparing a third CD for ABC Classics.
Other irons in the fire include Z.O.O. Duo with Dutch guitarist – and wife – Marion Schaap, whose distinctive repertoire and close ensemble have been warmly received here and abroad (Classical Guitar magazine in the UK rated them of ‘premiere league quality’).
Composer–performer collaboration is central to his work. The programme from his acclaimed solo tour A Sympathetic Resonance – works by leading Australian composers, many written for him – was recorded commercially. He has also collaborated with Lyndon Terracini in a major performance of Henze’s El Cimarrón at the Darwin International Guitar Festival.
Peter Constant now resides in The Netherlands.
Press quotes
something that is far from the ordinary … Australian composers can boast of a highly effective interpreter in Peter Constant … he is totally in command of the material. His playing displays a comprehensive palette of expression and color …
Peter Constant is featured on the following titles
A Classic Case of Love
Soprano Helen Noonan and guitarist Peter Constant present an intimate programme of love songs spanning centuries, from folk and early music to Schubert, Satie, Villa-Lobos and the twentieth-century stage and songbook.
Arranger
Light on the Edge
The landscape and atmosphere of Australia come to life in this varied collection of solo and chamber guitar works by Australian composer Phillip Houghton.
A Sympathetic Resonance
Peter Constant presents classical guitar works by Australian composers, joined by Marion Schaap on guitar, Mardi McSullea on flute and Helen Noonan, soprano.
Producer
Performing as Z.O.O. Duo
Z.O.O. Duo, an original, classical guitar duo, features talented guitarists Peter Constant and Marion Schaap, directors of guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts.
A Handful of Rain
Inspired by Javanese gamelan and Japanese Shinto music, Mark Clement Pollard's ambient concert works pursue beauty and simplicity. A Handful of Rain gathers this acclaimed Australian composer's popular style from the mid-1990s.
…a little z.o.o.
Peter Constant and Marion Schaap as the Z.O.O. Duo follow their acclaimed A Sympathetic Resonance and Light on the Edge with a short, polished programme of classical guitar duos drawn from familiar concert repertoire.
Dusting Off Roses
The debut recording of Mark Pollard’s piece for two guitars, played by Z.O.O. Duo – Peter Constant and Marion Schaap – in five short movements of spare, atmospheric chamber writing.
Peter Constant is a member of
Z.O.O. Duo
Z.O.O. Duo, an original, classical guitar duo, features talented guitarists Peter Constant and Marion Schaap, directors of guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts.
And has been a member of
Guitar Trek
The pioneering work of this group has seen the development of a specially made family of guitars of different sizes and an exciting new repertoire for the medium.