Peter Sculthorpe Biography

Peter Maxwell Davies Born in Launceston, Tasmania, in 1929, Peter Sculthorpe was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School, the University of Melbourne and Wadham College, Oxford. He has also taught at various music institutions and universities throughout the world, and he holds honorary doctorates from Tasmania, Melbourne, Sussex and Griffith. An Officer of both the Order of Australia and the British Empire, in 1988 he was elected one of Australia's Living National Treasures. Peter Sculthorpe has written works in most musical forms and his output relates easily to the unique social climate and physical characteristics of Australia. The geographical position of Australia has caused him to be influenced by much of the music of Asia, especially that of Japan and Indonesia.