News & Updates
Projects
Peter Knight - composer/trumpeter/Film composer/curator
Perpetually curious, Peter Knight’s practice exists in the spaces between categories, between genres, and between cultures.
In recent years Peter has emerged as a significant international force in contemporary music, initiating commissions, collaborations, and performances with a diverse range of artists including recently, Anthony Braxton (USA), as a soloist with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Nicole Lizée (Canada), Amir ElSaffar (USA), Daniel Wilfred (Arnhem Land), Senyawa (Indonesia), Baliphonics (Sri Lanka), Hyelim Kim (Korea/UK), Paul Grabowsky (Australia), Aviva Endean, Tony Buck, and Alvin Lucier (USA). He has performed his music at some of the most significant festivals and venues in the world including: London Jazz Festival, Pierre Boulez Saal (Berlin), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, JazzFest Berlin, Soundstreams (Toronto), PuSh Festival (Vancouver) Sydney Festival, WOMADelaide, Earshot (Seattle) and National Forum of Music (Wroclaw, Poland).
From 2013 - 2023 Peter was the Artistic Director and co-CEO of Australia’s leading contemporary music ensemble, the Australian Art Orchestra. Under his leadership the organisation thrived artistically winning multiple awards and accolades (including the 2022 AMC Art Music Luminary Award for Organisation), and touring to some of the most significant festivals and venues in the world.
His current touring projects include Hand to Earth which features Yolngu traditional songkeepers, Daniel and David Wilfred, and which was nominated for an ARIA Award in 2022.
Peter has released 18 albums of his music on various labels including in 2022 a solo album, Shadow Phase, on the iconic Room40 label (named in Headphone Commute Best of 2022). He composes for film and recently completed the score for soon to be released Australian feature, Kid Snow, in collaboration with Warren Ellis. He also composes for contemporary theatre, most notably with acclaimed performer/director, Tamara Saulwick (Chamber Made).
Peter has won numerous awards, nominations, and fellowships including the Albert H. Maggs Composition Prize (2017), several AMC Art Music Awards, Bell Jazz Awards, Green Room Theatre Awards, and an Australia Council Music Fellowship (2013). He holds a doctorate from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and was named its Alumnus of the Year in 2013.
“A sonic world of wonder, warmth, and possibility.” The Saturday Paper (review of Shadow Phase)
“Solos here were like songlines, not paving superhighways through a compositional infrastructure but leaving faint footprints in a soundscape that evolved as organically as an ecosystem.” Downbeat
“Hard to categorise… hauntingly memorable” The Wire (UK)
“Hand to Earth is a truly exquisite album” * * * * * Songlines Magazine (UK)
“If trumpet is an element then Knight is an alchemist.” New York City Jazz Record
Watch
Edited version of solo concert at Copenhagen Jazzhouse 6th of September, 2014
The Mini Masterclass Series features musicians from our pool of amazing AAO collaborators and digs deep into specific musical and technical topics, providing...
We had originally planned the Closed Beginnings premiere performance as part of our series at MPavillion in collaboration with Monash University Museum of Ar...
Australian Art Orchestra with Nicole Lizée under the direction of Peter Knight. Metropolis New Music Festival 2016
A solo improvisation I recorded in my studio recently using the Revox reel-to-reel with my trumpet, along with some cymbals and found percussion. I'm also us...
Performance of Peter Knight's composition, The Plains, inspired by Gerald Murnane. Performance by the Australian Art Orchestra with Julia Reidy at JazzFest B...
Mini doc about Crossed & Recrossed, out now on Hospital Hill
To mark the Australian Art Orchestra's 25th anniversary, we're presenting the Solo Series: a monthly video release that puts the spotlight on one of the twel...
Repurposing the omnipresent portable device, Alter is an audio-visual installation for 16 iPads and 16 people in a delicate meditation on invisible systems and interconnectedness. Created by Tamara Saulwick & Peter Knight, in collaboration with Martyn Coutts and Steve Berrick, Commissioned by Arts House and premiered at the 2016 Festival of Live Art.
Releases
schedule
21st January
Sea of Sound Festival Bathurst NSW with Residual (Dung Nguyen and Peter Knight)
20th February
Surreal Shorts, Not So Silent film series. With Dung Nguyen, Erik Griswold, Vanessa Tomlinson, Minh Ha Patmore Federation Square Melbourne 8pm DETAILS
March 6th
TLDR at Jazzlab Melbourne - Peter Knight tpt/electronics, Theo Carbo guitar, Quinn Knight drums, with guest Adam Halliwell bass guitar TICKETS
March 13th
TLDR at Jazzlab Melbourne - Peter Knight tpt/electronics, Theo Carbo guitar, Quinn Knight drums, Helen Svoboda bass/voice with guest Lucky Pereira drums TICKETS
March 20th
TLDR at Jazzlab Melbourne - Peter Knight tpt/electronics, Theo Carbo guitar, Quinn Knight drums, Helen Svoboda bass/voice with guest Aaron Choulia sampler/piano TICKETS
March 27th
TLDR at Jazzlab Melbourne - Peter Knight tpt/electronics, Theo Carbo guitar, Quinn Knight drums, Helen Svoboda bass/voice TICKETS
29th March - 1st April
Vanessa Tomlinson’s Imaginary Aviary at The Piano Mill NSW DETAILS
April 18th
Sydney Conservatorium with Dung Nguyen ‘Residual’ workshop and performance
May 1-10
Creative development in Yogyakarta with Senyawa, Lawrence English and Aviva Endean
TLDR - Wednesdays 6, 13, 20, 27 March at Jazzlab
THEO CARBO guitar, HELEN SVOBODA bass/voice, PETER KNIGHT trumpet/electronics, QUINN KNIGHT drums
With weekly guests including, Adam Halliwell (bass guitar), Lucky Pereira (drum kit) Aaron Choulai (sampler, piano)
TICKETS