Peter Gjelsten has been learning the violin since 2009. He learned through the Suzuki Method with Lynley Culliford until he graduated high school in 2020. He then studied Classical Performance at the New Zealand School of Music under Monique Lapins before moving to Melbourne to study at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) with Sophie Rowell in 2023. He is currently in second year at ANAM studying with Adam Chalabi.
Peter entered the NZCT Chamber Music competition for 5 years and won the first prize award in 2019 playing viola, and First Prize in 2020 playing violin. He was coached by members of the NZSQ in both these years.
Peter took part in the Adam Summer School in 2019-22, where in 2022 he was given a spot in the Troubador Quartet through to 2023.
In late 2021, Peter won the NZSM and Wellington Youth Orchestra concerto competitions where he got the chance to perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with both these orchestras. He also participated in New Zealand's National Concerto Competition in 2023 and performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the final with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Peter also took part in the 2022 Whakatipu Music Festival where he enjoyed an intense week of chamber music and private lessons.
Peter has been playing in orchestras and ensembles since 2011 at Suzuki camps and workshops. From 2017 Peter played in the Wellington Youth Orchestra and was Assistant Concertmaster 2018-22.
Peter was accepted to NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra in 2019 as First Violin and 2020 as Assistant Concertmaster which was sadly cancelled due to COVID-19.
He was also accepted into NYO 2019-2022 in the first violin section where he led as Concertmaster in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Peter is playing on a 2017 Tobi Widemann (Christchurch) violin.
FROM: NZ / Aotearoa
Peter is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Graeme Hairsine, Mark Debeljak and Daniel Lehrer.
Photo by Pia Johnson.