In June of 2020, Dent was scheduled to lead a fourth trip to New York with singers from across Canada to join a mass choir singing the Mozart Requiem in Lincoln Centre.  Due to the Covid shut-down, that trip was postponed. Any rescheduling is at this time undetermined. Previous tours in 2013, 2015 and 2017 featured performances of the Durufle Requiem, the Faure Requiem and the Brahms Requiem, the latter two in Carnegie Hall.  All are presented under the auspices of Distinguished Concerts International of New York.

Peter Dent retired from regular choral conducting in May of 2020. Previous positions in South Vancouver Island included the Newcombe Singers of Victoria (12 years), the Ekoos Vocal Ensemble of Sooke (5 years) and 7 years with the Arion Male Voice Choir of Victoria.  Over the past 25 years he managed to achieve much as a choral conductor. While living on Galiano Island, Peter started Coro Galiano which continues to thrive today. He was the manager and co-conductor of Vivaldi Chamber Choir of Vancouver during the choir’s two tours of Mexico and one of Central Europe. In an International choral competition in 2002, the Pacific Singers, which he founded in 1999, received the highest mark awarded in the Adult Mixed Voice Choir category in the annual Prague Folk Music Festival. Dent was a guest juror in international choral competitions in that city in both 2004 and 2007.  Prior to taking up conducting he had a lengthy career in the labour movement. During this time Peter sang under several of Canada’s premiere choir directors and was a paid chorister. Throughout the 1980’s he directed and wrote vocal arrangements for Home Made Jam, an a cappella vocal jazz ensemble made up of members of the Vancouver Bach Choir.

Peter Dent has a BA from York University and a Master of Education degree from the University of British Columbia where he studied Choral Conducting with James Fankhauser and Arranging with Fred Stride. He is the composer of two major choral works: A Jazz Mass – 1993 (Click here to listen to a recording) and A Canadian Requiem – 2003.

Peter Dent is also a jazz pianist and choral arranger. His CDs are played regularly on the CBC and several of his compositions have been performed by Canadian choirs. He is comfortable conducting a variety of musical genres and has led vocal workshops in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Peter spent the academic year of 2007-2008 teaching jazz piano and conducting the University Choir at the Edna Manley School for the Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica. Since moving to Victoria, he has played in venues as diverse as Hermann’s Jazz Club, The Mary Winspear Centre, The Alix Goolden Hall, The Delta Ocean Pointe, The Hotel Grand Pacific, and First Metropolitan United Church. Dent is anxious to again resume performing regularly in the Concerts in Care program with vocalist Elizabeth Marshall. For some musical variety, he plays guitar and sings with Kevin Ramsay in the “Never Be Brothers.”

Peter became a life member of Victoria Local 247, Canadian Federation of Musicians in April of 2015. He is currently a member of the local’s executive Board. He and his wife are members of the Union Club of Victoria.

Peter has produced several CD's. They reflect his interest in fusing the rhythms of jazz with the hymns of the church. While in Vancouver, he performed regularly at the Jazz Vespers series at St. Andrews Wesley United Church and did several national tours performing material from his various CDs.  - click on one of the images below for more details.

Sibel Thrasher passed away on April 9, 2020. Click here to access an audio recording of a gig we did at Hermann’s Jazz Club in Victoria on November 25, 2009. It is being posted as a tribute to her memory.

May 09/21