Drama Staff - Peter Golding

Specialist Interests: Singing, Music, Arranging, Conducting, Musical Arrangements.

Peter trained as a pianist, conductor and composer at the Guildhall School of Music, London. Whilst there he worked with many distinguished musicians, including extensive work with Leonard Bernstein, who became his mentor and sewed the first theatrical seeds in him. On leaving the Guildhall, Peter began the first of several concert tours throughout Britain, which were followed by offers from around the world.

In 2010, Peter conducted ‘Wicked’ in Germany.

Over the last twenty years, Peter has decreased his schedule as a concert pianist as his ever-increasing involvement in the theatre takes over, as Musical Director for shows such as Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Oh! What a Lovely War, Me and My Girl, The King & I, Annie, Into The Woods and Cabaret. He has worked with many stars, including Bradley Walsh, Liza Minnelli, Robin Askwith, Michael Crawford, Gary Wilmot, Michael Elphick, Gorden Kaye, Shane Lynch, Stephen Gately, Vicki Michelle, Shaun Williamson, Elton John, Colin Baker and Sheila Ferguson. In 1996, Peter was Musical Director for the record-breaking run of Cinderella at the Crewe Lyceum, starring Wayne Sleep, Peggy Mount, John Challis and Sonia; since then he has been involved in countless pantomimes around the country.

In 2002, Peter was Musical Director for the hugely successful production of The Wizard of Oz at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. He was invited back a year later to M.D. Peter Pan, with Brian Blessed. In 2004 Peter wrote the score and conducted the Mystery Plays in Canterbury Cathedral. This starred Edward Woodward and Daniel MacPherson. In the same year as the Mysteries, he conducted Oliver! starring the legendary Ron Moody as Fagin. He has subsequently become Mr. Moody’s personal Musical Director and has done many shows with him, including a successful London run of his one-man show. In 2005 Peter worked on Mary Poppins, which opened at the Bristol Hippodrome to tremendous acclaim, and subsequently transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End.

In November 2009, Peter was honoured to be asked to MD the Memorial Concert at the Palace Theatre, London, in memory of Stephen Gately, a wonderful friend and colleague. Appearing with him on that star-studded night were Sir Ian McKellen, Tony Hadley, Shayne Ward, Maria Friedman, Beverley Knight, Christopher Biggins and Lee Ryan, to name but a few.

Peter is currently a guest lecturer at the University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, and has also lectured at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (schedule permitting). His work with the students there has included Edward Bond’s Restoration, Stiles and Luckham’s Moll Flanders and Brecht’s Mother Courage.

At present, Peter divides his time between conducting engagements, vocal coaching at theatre academies in the UK, doing arrangements and compositions for various companies, and running musical theatre workshops in Geneva and the UK for students.