Peter Knight is an internationally acclaimed composer and performer working across genres, disciplines, and cultures. His music integrates influences from jazz, electronica, contemporary classical, and non-Western traditions.
As Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra (2013–23) Peter composed extensively for the ensemble, commissioned over 100 collaborations with a diverse range of artists, and led performances by the company in over a dozen countries, winning multiple awards and accolades including four AMC Art Music Awards, the Albert H Maggs Composition Prize, and numerous ARIA nominations.
Peter has composed extensively for theatre and since winding up with the Australian Art Orchestra has composed the scores for feature films and documentaries including: Kid Snow dir. Paul Goldman (in collaboration with Warren Ellis) which premiered at Sydney Film Festival (2024) and is currently streaming on Stan, and Longe da Estrada dir. Hugo Viera da Silva, which premiered at Lefest Lisbon Film Festival and is soon to stream on Arte. Full CV
Portfolio
Kid Snow (feature dir. Paul Goldman 2024)
Love Theme (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Piano, string trio, double bass, electronics
Carnation (edits from feature in production dir. Amiel Courtin-Wilson)
Shadow Phase (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - String quartet, trumpet with FX, Revox tape machine, bass synthesiser
Longe da Estrada - (feature film dir. Hugo Viera da Silva 2024)
Closing credits (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight with Margot Petrie - Female voice, guitar, electric bass, synthesiser, drums
A Distant Prospect - (documentary in production dir. Gus Kemp)
Opening (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Female voice, piano, trumpet, bass clarinet, trombone, violin, double bass, drums, electronics
A Distant Prospect - (documentary in production dir. Gus Kemp)
Turning Tree (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Piano, electronics
A Distant Prospect - (documentary in production dir. Gus Kemp)
Gerald Murnane reading (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Female voice, violin, double bass, bass clarinet, electronics
Longe da Estrada - (feature film dir. Hugo Viera da Silva 2024)
Mountain scene (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Prepared piano, trumpet, bass clarinet, percussion, double bass
Longe da Estrada - (feature film dir. Hugo Viera da Silva 2024)
Hallucination (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Prepared piano, trumpet, bass clarinet, percussion, double bass
Kid Snow (feature dir. Paul Goldman 2024)
Opening credits (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Synthesiser, bass guitar, percussion, trumpet, FX
Kid Snow (feature dir. Paul Goldman 2024)
Convoy (excerpt), composed by Peter Knight - Synthesiser, Revox tape machine, bass guitar, female and male voices
Damage (cues from feature film dir. Madeleine Blackwell 2020)
Opening and Taxi (excerpts), composed by Peter Knight - Double bass, koto, electronics, dàn tranh, organ