Peter Longworth

Peter Longworth (1964-2018)

The multifaceted pianist, teacher, colleague and mentor, Peter Longworth, who died aged 54, maintained throughout his life an amazing balance as a soloist and chamber/collaborative musician.  He has touched many people’s lives through performance and teaching, and as musical collaboration builds life relationships, the news of his untimely early death is truly devastating.

Born in 1964 in London, England, to American parents, Peter spent much of his childhood all over Europe. As a teenager, he knew he wanted to study music and was especially drawn to music of Brahms, of which he eventually made two recordings: a selection of solo piano composition by Johannes Brahms and the three Brahms Violin Sonatas with long-time friend Mark Fewer.

As a young man, Peter attended the Northwestern University and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; at University of Michigan, he began to work in the studio of American violinist Camilla Wicks- one of the very first international female violinists.  Soon, Peter was collaborating with Camilla, and his love of chamber and collaborative piano continued throughout his life.

He spent a year at the Banff Centre after graduation, where he met Marek Jablonski.  With an invitation from Jablonski to join the Royal Conservatory of Music’s New Program (which then became current Glenn Gould School), Peter moved to Toronto in 1987 to study with Jablonski, Marc Durand and Leon Fleisher, and since then stayed in Toronto to become a true force majeure in Canadian classical music.

Peter’s musical life was quite diverse. On top of being one of the most sought-after chamber musicians in Canada, he and violinist Mark Fewer and cellist Thomas Wiebe founded the Duke Piano Trio.  As a soloist, he collaborated with conductors such as Bramwell Tovey, and Edwin Outwater.  However, he made his greatest impact through his teaching, influencing and inspiring a whole generation of young musicians in Toronto and beyond.

Peter joined the Glenn Gould School as a faculty member in 1991; he also taught chamber music at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto in the early years.  Peter was always involved and interested in people, in their successes and struggles. So many young musicians remember him as a superb listener, whose compassion went beyond music and learning.

The role of a music teacher is a quite an interesting one, especially in higher education.  The simple teaching and learning of techniques, which we all spend much time on, are never the final goal. The final ‘musical’ goal demands dedication beyond the technical aptitude — it demands an understanding of the syntax, self-synthesis and a certain amount of daring. It can often be a fragile process, and many young, as well as experienced musicians struggle through various points of their development.  Peter was always there for his students and peers.  He encouraged them, he demanded from them, and he cared for them.

https://www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2018/06/29/in-memoriam-the-musical-life-of-peter-longworth-reflections-on-his-legacy/

Productions

Photos

Photos by John Lauener