Peter Pearse

FLUTE

Originally from England, I began playing the flute at eleven, inspired by James Galway’s performances. I studied at the Junior Guildhall and later at the Royal Academy of Music where I had the privilege of studying with William Bennett and Sebastian Bell. Thanks to a grant from the Abbado Trust, I completed an Artist Diploma at Indiana University, studying with Peter Lloyd and Kathryn Lukas.

During that time, I played principal flute with the European Sinfonia on tours in Spain, which sparked my connection with the country. By chance, I auditioned for the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias after my parents found an advert for the job in The Daily Telegraph, rescued from a neighbour’s bin. I won the audition in Amsterdam, and two days after my wedding, my wife Myra and I moved to Asturias.

That was 32 years ago. Since then, I’ve enjoyed a rich career with the orchestra, premiering several concertos for flute and piccolo. Outside of performing, I spend time teaching, repairing instruments and making flute headjoints.