Peter Mooney (conductor)
Encyclopedia
Peter Mooney was a Scottish educator and conductor of the renowned Glasgow Phoenix Choir.
Born 18 September 1915, Peter Mooney was to follow a career as a teacher of music and was to become the last principal of Music at Hamilton Academy
. In 1955 Mooney was appointed conductor of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir founded in 1951 by members of the former Orpheus Choir, established in 1901 by Sir Hugh Roberton. Mooney was to serve as the conductor of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir until his death 28 years later. Under Peter Mooney’s leadership the Glasgow Phoenix Choir “toured the United States and Europe, winning friends and prestigious awards on its travels.” (Glasgow Herald 21 September 1983) and since 1960 has engaged in many tours in Europe and North America and appeared at prestigious venues and events, including the BBC Proms
at the Royal Albert Hall
, London.
As Principal of Music at Hamilton Academy
, Mooney conducted the school’s choirs. In December 1961 Hamilton Academy’s mixed choir joined the Glasgow Phoenix Choir for a choral concert at Hamilton Town Hall
(joining again with the Glasgow Phoenix Choir in a concert in 1967.) In 1962 the school’s mixed choir achieved the highest mark in the Glasgow Music Festival, in addition to the Festival's highest award, the Ailie Cullen Memorial Trophy, being won by Ian McGregor, a former pupil of Hamilton Academy. Under Peter Mooney’s baton, Hamilton Academy’s (mixed) Choir issued recordings and appeared on British radio and television programmes and performed internationally.
In 1968 Peter Mooney and the Academy’s choir undertook a tour of North America that included performances at the White House
, Washington, U.S.A., the Seattle Opera House
, Brooklyn Academy of Music
and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
, New York. Dubbed "the ambassadors of song" the choir and Mr. Mooney appeared on American television and were granted honorary citizenship by Washington State.
Following his death at Hamilton on 19 September 1983, the Glasgow Phoenix Choir established in his memory the Peter Mooney Scholarship in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
.
Born 18 September 1915, Peter Mooney was to follow a career as a teacher of music and was to become the last principal of Music at Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
. In 1955 Mooney was appointed conductor of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir founded in 1951 by members of the former Orpheus Choir, established in 1901 by Sir Hugh Roberton. Mooney was to serve as the conductor of the Glasgow Phoenix Choir until his death 28 years later. Under Peter Mooney’s leadership the Glasgow Phoenix Choir “toured the United States and Europe, winning friends and prestigious awards on its travels.” (Glasgow Herald 21 September 1983) and since 1960 has engaged in many tours in Europe and North America and appeared at prestigious venues and events, including the BBC Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London.
As Principal of Music at Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
, Mooney conducted the school’s choirs. In December 1961 Hamilton Academy’s mixed choir joined the Glasgow Phoenix Choir for a choral concert at Hamilton Town Hall
Hamilton Townhouse
Hamilton Townhouse is a building in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which is operated by South Lanarkshire Council. It contains both the town's main public hall and public library, as well as various council departments, including Licensing, and community learning.The building, although...
(joining again with the Glasgow Phoenix Choir in a concert in 1967.) In 1962 the school’s mixed choir achieved the highest mark in the Glasgow Music Festival, in addition to the Festival's highest award, the Ailie Cullen Memorial Trophy, being won by Ian McGregor, a former pupil of Hamilton Academy. Under Peter Mooney’s baton, Hamilton Academy’s (mixed) Choir issued recordings and appeared on British radio and television programmes and performed internationally.
In 1968 Peter Mooney and the Academy’s choir undertook a tour of North America that included performances at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Washington, U.S.A., the Seattle Opera House
McCaw Hall
The Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is a performance hall and opera house, located in Seattle, Washington. Inaugurated in June 2003, it was constructed within the basic steel support structure of the earlier Seattle Opera House, originally created for the World's Fair in 1962 and gutted for this...
, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, officially the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York, is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
, New York. Dubbed "the ambassadors of song" the choir and Mr. Mooney appeared on American television and were granted honorary citizenship by Washington State.
Following his death at Hamilton on 19 September 1983, the Glasgow Phoenix Choir established in his memory the Peter Mooney Scholarship in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
.
External links
- http://www.phoenixchoir.org Glasgow Phoenix Choir