Celebrated English Composer Peter Wiegold to Present Lecture at Drexel

Critically acclaimed composer and conductor Peter Wiegold will present a lecture titled “Music Without Boundaries” at the Mandell Theater on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. as part of a three-day residency. His residency includes the lecture, which is free and open to the public, and a master class and conducting session for students in the Drexel University Orchestra.

Wiegold is a leading pioneer in contemporary music, recognized for his innovative composition crossing boundaries of genre and culture. He works to implement instruments and musical styles of different backgrounds and cultures to create classical compositions that challenge the expected. He is the director of Club Inégales (London, UK), home to the ensemble Notes Inégales. Recently, the ensemble has presented a new version of Henry Purcell’s opera, “King Arthur,” with musicians from backgrounds in jazz, Korean and Syrian music, and poet/comedian Murray Lachlan Young.

“Wiegold’s music incorporates cultural and musical styles, as well as instruments, outside the classical tradition,” said Luke Abruzzo, assistant teaching professor and program director of music in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. “His work and philosophy represent a musical globalization, and speak to the culturally diverse Drexel student population. His approach to musical composition mimics the international interaction our students will likely have in science and industry.

Outside of Club Inégales Wiegold has extensive work as a conductor and musical director with the world’s leading ensembles and his compositions have been performed internationally at festivals including the BBC Proms. He is the founding director of the Institute of Composing, which services as a “think-tank for new music across all genres”. In addition, Wiegold is a contributor and co-writer of “Beyond Britten: The Composer and the Community,” a series of essays looking at music and its role in the community.

Wiegold’s lecture will reference many of his ideas and experiences, and it is contextualized by his quote, “There are no rigid boundaries among composers’, conductors’, and players’ imaginations. One must simply find the right trigger for the right imagination at the right time.”

“This presentation is an opportunity for students and members of the community to look at the themes of innovation, diversity and inclusivity in the context of music, three concepts greatly valued by the University,” said Miriam Giguere, PhD, department head of the Department of Performing Arts in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

The lecture is supported by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, where Wiegold is currently acting as a consultant and advisor.