Cello
2025
At aged sixteen Peter left school to start his professional career playing in the orchestra of London Festival Ballet. By the time he was 21 he had become principal cellist of both the London String Orchestra and London City Ballet. In that same year he was appointed Professor of viola da gamba and baroque cello at the Royal Academy of Music – then the youngest ever professor in the Academy’s history.
Four years later Peter embarked upon a two year period of study in America at Indiana University, taking lessons and masterclasses with such legendary figures as Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Janos Starker, Franco Gulli, Rostislav Dubinsky, Menahem Pressler and Paul Tortelier, before returning from America to study further with William Pleeth.
Peter has been principal cello with Oxford Philharmonic for 23 years and was also principal with the English String Orchestra for over 20 years and is highly sought after as guest principal with many other orchestras. In addition to his orchestral work Peter’s biggest love has always been chamber music having been a founder member of the Rogeri Trio upon returning to the UK from the States and for twelve years the ‘cellist in the Bochmann Quartet. Peter continues his love of the piano trio repertoire in the piano trio Fiero. Other chamber music collaborators have included Nigel Kennedy, Robert Cohen, Rafael Walfisch and Natalie Klein amongst many others. This year will see the release of his recording of Mendelssohn’s Octet with Peter on first cello and Maxim Vengerov on first violin. Last year saw long awaited two-man concerts with Nigel Kennedy, his long time friend to sell out audiences in Wells Cathedral.
Peter is a renowned teacher with many pupils going on to have professional careers and currently teaches for Oxford University and Oundle School. He is often an external examiner for the Royal College of Music and gives masterclasses and coaching for chamber music courses in the UK and abroad.
Peter plays a cello by G.B.Rogeri, dated 1697.