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Obituaries
Peter James Ross (Former staff)
21/11/1947 – 22/08/2021
Peter was the eldest of four children to Jim and June Ross and began life in Ivanhoe. A boy soprano heavily influenced by his mother’s musical ability, he attended Ivanhoe Grammar before the family moved to a sheep farm near Albury. Peter did not take up piano formally until age 16, studying with pianist Elaine Buchhorn. He was naturally talented but worked twice as hard, always aware he had come to the keyboard late. He attended Albury Grammar and three years as a trainee wool classer and some accounting work was not to rob the arts community of his talent. Eventually he made it to the Melbourne Conservatorium, where he was President of the Music Students Society, before attending Columbia University in New York to attain his Teaching degree. Peter began teaching at Prahran High School, where his musical This Land of Australia was first performed, then on to University High as Acting Head of Music before arriving at Melbourne High School as Director of Music.
Peter began at Wesley in 1980 as Director of Music. A tall, inspiring and modern leader, Peter arrived at a time when Wesley was embracing a new era of artistic endeavour that still shapes our culture today. Principal David Prest had a vision to turbo charge the arts and so Peter joined a remarkable team at just the right time.
Peter followed the ‘long and distinguished career of Tom Brown’, and did so with respect and enthusiasm. Music moved from the houses on High Street to the new Music School which floated above the Tuckshop, bridging old and new.
His ability to arrange and understand the texture of music historically, orchestrally and chorally elevated him, and his ability to organise those around him whilst exuding a cheeky smile was legendary. He was a Founder of the Wesley College Society for the Arts and became its Director. Arts in the Round, taking the Big Band to Canada, a more impressive musical presence at Speech Nights, contemporary and engaging works for students and the introduction of immersive keyboard laboratories followed. With Peter, projects were infinitely achievable. Always intelligent, always kind and very civilised, Peter saw Wesley as a school which sought new and innovative ways to present and develop its culture, blessed by brilliant staff.
In his address at the 30th anniversary of the Society for the Arts he said, ‘The school community came to realise the depth of artistic expression that was freely available to it through existing resources and students and parents who were talented and committed to making the Arts a major element of their lives – an element they were keen to share.’
After a period as the Deputy Director of the Ministry for the Arts, Peter was appointed Director of Music at PLC, a position he enjoyed until retirement in 2007, a period of twenty years.
Soon after diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he continued to enjoy travel, musical events, concerts and particularly organ recitals and he remained connected to the church. Peter told me that music took him to another plane and allowed him to explore his deepest thoughts, where he could explore the meaning of life. His hope was that through teaching, sharing and playing music that his students could benefit from having music in their lives, and thousands have. Peter was an inspiration. Before the pandemic he wrote to me, ‘I remember wishing there were more like you - we needed kindred souls who were fearless and prepared to challenge the status quo. If I have given you the means whereby you too can soar above the inadequacies of your everyday existence - then I can die a happy man.’
Contributed by Ian Thomas (OW1982)