About Peter McAven

Peter McAven was born in Auckland, New Zealand, where he received his first guitar lessons aged 14. In 1972 he was awarded a QEII Arts Council Award Scholarship. In 1978/79 he completed successfully the teaching and performance diplomas at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich. In 1985 he successfully attained the concert diploma under the teacher Prof. Klaus Hempel at the University for Music in Hamburg.

McAven was chosen for an appointment as assistant professor to the Hamburg Conservatory, and held a class for teaching diploma students from 1978 until the end of 1995. Two of his students are now staff members.

Peter has given many solo and combined chamber music concerts, (particularly with flute) in England, Germany, Sweden and New Zealand. His English debut was at the Wigmore Hall in London, in 1985. This performance was with Martin Feinstein, Flautist.

A review from "The Times" of London, said of Peter's performance:

"...an astonishing array of colours and real sense of style."


The Guitar International commented:

"...McAven breathed life into the phrases."

 

He has played with historical instruments at the Thalia Theatre and Musikhalle in Hamburg, (with the Hamburger Symphoniker) and has recorded for the German National Radio, and TV in Budapest.

Peter is now teaching for private and public music schools in the Lauterbach area, where he lives. Peter has trained in an additional skill - that of Master NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) Practitioner, which he also practices in his area.

He regularly performs concerts in and around the region, and his reputation has grown rapidly. He is regularly booked to play duo with other musicians, or as a solo concert guitarist.