Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, English composer and conductor, Died at 81

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was born on September 8, 1934, and died on March 14, 2016.

He was an English composer and conductor. In 2004, he was made Master of the Queen’s Music.

He was at both the University of Manchester and at the Royal Manchester College of Music, he formed a group dedicated to contemporary music, the New Music Manchester, with fellow students Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies writing works include eight works for the stage, from the monodrama Eight Songs for a Mad King, which shocked the audience in 1969, to Kommilitonen!, first performed in 2011.

Sir Davis wrote ten symphonies, the first from 1973 to 1976, the tenth (“Alla ricerca di Borromini”) in 2013.

He was Artistic Director of the Dartington International Summer School from 1979 to 1984, whilst he was a conductor.

Peter was associate conductor/composer with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, From 1992 to 2002 a position he also held with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2005, he was cautioned for having a dead swan remains in his possession.

Peter Maxwell Davies was openly gay.

Colin Parkinson was his partner until it ended in 2012.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies passed away at 81 yrs old.