Peter Sheridan
is a creative performer, educator and passionate supporter of new music, commissioning over one hundred pieces for the low flutes. A native of New York City, he studied at the H.S. of Music and Art, Mannes College of Music (BMus) and the Juilliard Preparatory Division. Further graduate studies were undertaken at London Goldsmith's College, University of Arizona (MMus) and the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). Mr. Sheridan currently lives in Melbourne Australia, and is Head of Woodwinds for Donvale Christian College and coordinator of their ‘Instrumental Bands Program.’ Also a Teaching Associate for Monash University, he is director the Monash University Flute Ensemble, and maintains an active private teaching studio.

As a recording artist Sheridan has appeared on Hollywood soundtracks and various independent chamber music recordings. He has completed several landmark albums featuring the unique tones of the low flutes with the independent Australian record label MOVE records, as well as an album with the Australian publishing company Wirripang. These recordings have received strong reviews and have aired on ABC National, 3 MBS and 5 MBS radio stations in Australia and on airwaves abroad as well. A recent new-age recording titled, ‘Traveler,’ with award-winning artist/flutist Sherry Finzer, has been aired in over 15 Countries and has received complimentary reviews.

Blue_Contra_resized.jpgAs a 'low flutes' specialist, Sheridan has commissioned, promoted and collaborated on numerous projects featuring these large flutes. With compositions for Alto, Bass, Albisiphone, Contrabass, Sub-Contrabass and Hyperbass flutes he has inspired a thriving new repertoire for these instruments and has ignited a growing interest in their exciting sounds and flexible abilities both as ensemble members and center stage soloist(s). He motivated the construction of the World's lowest (and largest) flute: the Hyperbass (chromatic), which plays lower than the concert piano (C-0), and has visions for a Subhyperbass flute which will play down to C-1 (64' length) In 2022.

In Australia, he commissioned Andrian Pertout's 'Here and Now (2016),' a multi-movement concerto for Low Flutes, Strings and Electronic Soundscape and has premiered the 'Lyric Concerto' (contrabass flute/strings) by Bruce Lawrence with the Melbourne Musicians Society. He has appeared at the Austral-Asian Computer Music Association Conference (Qld), and is a regular performer for the Melbourne Composers League. In 2015 he premiered Houston Dunleavy's extraordinary double concerto 'Waiting for the Clouds To Part' (for C flute/piccolo and bass/alto flute) with the Heildelberg Wind Ensemble.

As a founding member of the innovative 'Los Angeles Flute Quartet' (2001-2007), he discovered his 'true low flute voice' supporting the bottom end of that vibrant ensemble for a number of years. Peter warmly expresses his gratitude to his LAFQ colleagues whom provided the opportunity to explore these low flutes in 'real- time.’ He has performed as a soloist and guest ensemble member with the established 'Los Angeles Flute Orchestra,' under conductor and composer Peter Senchuk, and has appeared in numerous festivals and International conventions, throughout the United States, Canada, Holland, Japan, England, New Zealand and Australia. He has been an invited guest artist for the Low Flutes Festival, Mid-Alantic Flute Fair, New Jersey, Seattle and Portland Flute Societies, as well as festivals in Winnipeg Cananda. He has plans to travel to Iceland, Singapore, China and Russia in the near future to present his innovative workshop and performances on, 'Exploring the Low Flutes.' In 2017, he lead the opening concert at the 43rd Annual NFA Flute Convention (San Diego) where he conducted a flute ensemble of over 250 flutists in new music by American and Australian composers.

As an Orchestral and chamber musician he has worked with the the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, Australian Philharmonic, Australian National Academy of Music, Grand Canyon Music Festival (on PBS), Aspen Music Festival (on NPR), Pasadena and Thousand Oaks Symphonies, the Mannes Camerata, Arizona Opera Company, San Bernardino Pops as well as the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Peter has presented numerous master classes and programs for various arts organizations, including: the National Flute Association, American Composers Forum, California and Queensland Music Teachers Association, The Los Angeles Bach Society, British Flute Society, Australian Flute Festival, and the Canadian Flute and Japanese Flute Associations. He has been an invited guest soloist with the acclaimed Fisenden Flute Ensemble (Perth) and the NFA Professional Flute Choir performing Peter Senchuk's 'Nuestro Pueblo' (for low flutes and flute ensemble).

Peter is honoured to have studied with Thomas Nyfenger, Sheridon Stokes, Janos Balint (Hungary), Judith Mendenhall, Nadine Asin, Bonnie Lichter and Clare Hoffmann (who's patience and dedication seasoned him into a flute player!). He has performed in Master classes by Baker, Schocker, Nicolet, Schulz, and Chesis and has been the recipient of awards and grants from Monash University, Mannes College, Aspen Music Festival, American Composers Forum: Subito, University of Arizona, New York City Honours Orchestra, Turtle Bay Music School and Santa Monica College, where he was nominated ''Outstanding Professor" by the International Student Committee. In 2009, 2010, 2017 he was presented with the "Dean's Commendation of Excellence in Teaching" for his outstanding contribution to the Faculty of Arts at Monash University-Melbourne, Australia. ...