Peter Schubert

Academic title(s): 

Professor

Peter Schubert
Department: 
Music Research
Area(s): 
Music Theory
Musicianship
Contact Information
Phone: 
514-398-4535 #00281
Email address: 
peter.schubert [at] mcgill.ca
Group: 
Faculty
Salutation: 
Prof
Degree(s): 

BA Columbia College, Music
MA Columbia University
PhD Columbia University

Biography: 

Peter Schubert came to Montreal from New York City, where he founded and directed Opera Uptown and The New Calliope Singers, a group renowned for its commitment to modern music during its fifteen-year career. The group presented over fifty premieres and released a critically acclaimed CD entitled "New Cantatas and Madrigals."

Since 1991, he has conducted the highly respected Montreal-based group, The Orpheus Singers. Under his direction, the group has placed as a finalist several times the CBC Competition for Amateur Choruses, winning first prize in the chamber chorus category in 1996. The Orpheus Singers has presented premieres of several new Canadian works and participated in a CD of the musical compositions of Freidrich Nietzsche.

In 1998, Peter Schubert founded VivaVoce, a professional vocal ensemble, to stimulate interest in choral chamber music ranging from the Renaissance to the day before yesterday. By presenting unique, interactive "commentated concerts" in schools and concert halls, VivaVoce delights and entertains it audiences of all ages, instilling in them a deeper understanding of their musical heritage.

Schubert holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University, which gives him a rich base on which to draw for his commentated concerts. Currently an Associate Professor at the McGill University Faculty of Music, Schubert is the author of a groundbreaking and highly regarded textbook, Modal Counterpoint, Renaissance Style (Oxford University Press, 1999). With colleague Christoph Neidhoefer he also co-authored Baroque Counterpoint (Prentice-Hall, 2005).

Peter Schubert studied conducting with Nadia Boulanger, Helmuth Rilling, Jacques-Louis Monod and David Gilbert and has been assistant to Gregg Smith and Agnes Grossman. He has published an edition of Renaissance Noels as well as his own innovative arrangements of five popular Christmas carols with C.F. Peters.

Interviews: 

Nikhil Hogan Show 156 - Peter Schubert (Palestrina, Fux, Counterpoint)

Nikhil Hogan Show 136 - Peter Schubert (Baroque Counterpoint and Fugue)

Nikhil Hogan Show 102 – Peter Schubert (Counterpoint)

Discography: 

"Tenth Anniversary Anthology of New Choral Chamber Music," New Calliope Singers (Finnadar 90850-1, 1987).

New Calliope Singers "New Cantatas and Madrigals," including works by Babbitt, Druckman, Gideon & others (CRI, CD 638, 1993).

William Mayer's "Voices from Lost Realms," New Calliope Singers (Albany Records, Troy 068, 1993), selections.

"Friedrich Nietzsche, Compositions of his Youth," The Orpheus Singers (Albany Records, Troy 178, 1994), selections.

Pierre de la Rue: The Complete Magnificats; Three Salve Reginas. VivaVoce (Naxos 8.557896-97, 2007).

Artistic performances: 

A five part video series: Singing on the Book

(improvising a new melody against a chant melody found in a book of Gregorian chant)

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