Oakham’s Director of Music has been bestowed the honour of a High Sheriff Award for his work in bringing the counties’ children together in the massed Pied Piper! concert held last year.
High Sheriff Awards are presented at the end of the shrieval year to recognise the work of individuals or community groups within the county. The outgoing High Sheriff, Margaret Miles, had invited Peter to attend the High Sheriff Declaration ceremony in the Castle, but this had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus. Richard Cole, the new High Sheriff, and Margaret Miles now hope they will be able to make the presentation in person at another event later in the year.
Pied Piper! was an ambitious project that saw 450 pupils aged 7-16 years, representing every school in Rutland, come together to perform in a concert at De Montfort Hall. The massed concert was the culmination of hours of workshops, practices and rehearsals – all championed and supported by Rutland’s Music Hub. Peter, as Chair of Trustees of Rutland Music Hub, was instrumental in developing the idea for the concert, as well as composing and conducting the music.
Mrs Miles’ letter, which accompanied the Award certificate, outlined her reasons for presenting this honour to Peter. “It was a total triumph to bring so many young children from all the Rutland Schools together with music. You gave them a memorable experience from the rehearsals to the magnificent performance in De Montfort Hall. This was an ambitious project which clearly required many hours of rehearsals and logistic planning. On top of all this, you actually wrote The Pied Piper music for the children to sing on its opening night. Thank you so much for all your time, energy and enthusiasm that has in turn given so much to so many young people in Rutland.”
“The High Sheriff Award was such a lovely surprise and great honour,” says Peter. “Music provides the perfect foil for community collaboration and cohesion, and I’m delighted to be able to, through the Rutland Music Hub, play a role in building community music-making in the country.”