Peter Whitehead studied the viola for eight years at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire from 2016 to 2024, receiving a BMus (Hons), an MMus, and a PgDip in Orchestra Performance. In that time, he studied with Lucy Nolan, Louise Lansdown, and Adam Romer. For the 2024/2025 academic year, Peter was on the Hallé/RNCM Advanced Orchestral Strings Programme, which included work with the Hallé throughout the season. At RNCM, he received tuition from Ruth Gibson and Wenhong Luo.
Peter has played professionally with the Hallé, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, the Brigantes Orchestra, Sinfonia Stellaris, and the Bridgewater Hall Concert Orchestra.
While at RBC, Peter was heavily involved in their orchestral projects, often in leading positions. Memorable highlights included being Principal Viola for RBC’s Symphony Orchestra projects in 2019/2020 (including Strauss’ Oboe Concerto with Jonathan Kelly, Principal Oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic); a string orchestra project in 2022 directed by Maria Włoszczowska (Leader of the Royal Northern Sinfonia); and Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’ with RBC’s Pop Orchestra in 2018, narrated by Sir Lenny Henry, which was later broadcasted on Classic FM. Peter also had other orchestral training opportunities at RBC, including side-by-side rehearsals with Welsh National Opera, and being on the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Training Scheme in 2020.
Externally from RBC, Peter took part in the Irish Chamber Orchestra Academy Project in March 2022. From 2015 to 2018, Peter was also part of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, including as Principal Viola for Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 (2018), having opportunities to work with conductors such as Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Cristian Măcelaru, and Jac van Steen.
At RNCM, Peter was Principal Viola for the RNCM Chamber Orchestra project in November 2024, which was conducted by Edward Gardner (Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra).
Peter also has a passion for playing chamber music, particularly with string quartets. He is currently part of the Agogo Quartet, a recently formed quartet based in Manchester. They are Artists-in-Residence at the Barrow Classical Music Foundation – in July 2025, they gave a recital at St. Mary’s Church, Barrow-in-Furness, with a programme of string quartets by Haydn and Prokofiev, and Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 81. In October 2025, the quartet led the Furness Festival Strings’ debut concert at the same venue as part of the Foundation.
From 2018 to 2023, Peter played with the Saorsa Quartet, who were formed at RBC. They were heavily active in RBC’s chamber music scene, featuring in multiple festivals, and notably won the Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music Prize in March 2022. Externally, Saorsa had a residency at the Lake District Summer Music Festival in 2023, receiving chamber music masterclasses from Alina Ibragimova (Chiaroscuro Quartet), Ben Hancox (Sacconi Quartet), and Louise Lansdown; performed alongside the Sacconi Quartet and Gwilym Simcock; and played Haydn’s ‘Emperor’ Quartet (Op. 76 No. 3) in an afternoon concert. Saorsa also performed at the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival: Summer Residency in 2022, playing Britten’s String Quartet No. 2, and the first two movements of Dvořák’s String Quintet in E-flat (Op. 97) alongside Krysia Osostowicz.
Peter has even had individual success, winning the John Fussell Award for Young Musicians after playing in the final at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, in October 2021, receiving £2,500. He has also performed in RBC’s Lunchtime Concerts series, playing Brahms’ F minor Viola Sonata (Op. 120 No. 1) with Charles Matthews in 2023. While at RBC, Peter received masterclasses with many highly renowned violists, most notably Timothy Ridout, Thomas Riebl, and Martin Outram.
Peter has had a number of administrative roles. He is an Executive Secretary for the British Viola Society, running their Facebook group and page since 2018. More recently, Peter has worked for the Tertis & Aronowitz International Viola Competitions as their Social Media Manager since May 2024, and also as the organiser for the Tertis & Aronowitz Birmingham Viola Day in November 2025.
