Peter Hazzard

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Peter Hazzard

Teacher, MS & HS Chorus, Music Theory & Composition, Acoustics, History of Rock & Roll

Liberal Arts Studies, Boston University
B.M. Composition/Conducting, Berklee College of Music

Peter Hazzard began his musical studies on the violin in 3rd grade and wrote his first compositions at the age of 8. When he graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition and conducting in 1971, he was asked to join the faculty to teach music theory, composition, conducting and music history. Within a few years Mr. Hazzard was appointed conductor of the Berklee Concert Band and later, Chair of the Traditional Studies Department. In 1983 he left Berklee to become Director of Music at Lawrence Academy, an independent secondary school in Groton, MA. He served Lawrence Academy teaching band, chorus, audio recording and acoustics as well as musical directing the annual musical. He also founded the school’s co-ed a cappella group in 1986.

After 30 years at Lawrence Academy, Mr. Hazzard retired in 2012 so that his wife, a lifelong Middle and High School FACS and Health teacher, could accept a once-in-a-career, four-year position setting up a culinary arts program in a large high school outside Charlotte, NC. While living in North Carolina, Mr. Hazzard taught chorus and theatre arts in several high schools. When the Hazzards returned to New Hampshire in 2016, he was coaxed back into the classroom full-time to develop a comprehensive music program at Arts Academy of New Hampshire, a new charter high school for the arts in Salem.

A nationally known composer/arranger and conductor, Mr. Hazzard has enjoyed a parallel career in professional music for more than fifty years. He played in orchestras and jazz/rock bands throughout his youth and later conducted several civic orchestras and choruses. He also spent fifteen years as the conductor of the Melrose (MA) Symphony Orchestra, the oldest continuing civic orchestra in the U.S., and he has appeared many times as a guest conductor at middle and high school choral and instrumental state and district festivals. In demand as a composer and arranger, Mr. Hazzard’s compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed in the U.S. as well as Japan, Russia, Europe and Bermuda. A great many of his compositions have been published and are available at J.W. Pepper and BKJ Publications. He is a member of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), The National Association for Music Education and The New Hampshire Music Education Association.

The Founders Academy Public Charter School Grades 5-12

Peter Hazzard