Peter Rutterford joined the Perth Choral Society as Director of Music late in 2004 and took charge of his inaugural concert in March 2005.
Peter was born in Cambridgeshire and began his musical education at the age of nine, studying the cornet in his local brass band.  He joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1964, studying the violin, trumpet and cornet and embarking on a musical career spanning thirty-six years. During his distinguished career, Peter travelled extensively throughout the world.
While Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines, Scotland, Peter commissioned a work from Fife musician and composer Bruce Fraser. Bruce dedicated the work to Peter and was so impressed by Peter’s conducting style that he called the piece “Panache”!
In 1999, Peter retired from the Royal Marines with the rank of Major; he then became Director of Music for the Sultan of Oman’s Royal Navy for the next two years, after which he returned to Perthshire, where he now lives with his wife Janet, who is the daughter of a former President of Perth Choral Society.
Throughout his career, Peter has been associated with a wide variety of musical organisations and has been invited to conduct and adjudicate, orchestras, bands, choral groups and musical societies all over the country. He is also Conductor of Crieff Choral Group and Chair of Perth Festival of the Arts.