Peyer, Gervase de (1926– )

English clarinettist and conductor. He studied with Frederick Thurston at the Royal College of Music, London. He played the Mozart Concerto on BBC Radio while at school, and founded the Melos Ensemble (1950). He was principal of the London Symphony Orchestra (1955–71) and director of the London Symphony Orchestra wind ensemble (Salzburg Festival 1973). He appeared as guest conductor with the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Melos Sinfonia; he was also an associate conductor of the Haydn Orchestra. He gave recitals with the Chamber Music Society of the Lincoln Center, New York (1969–89), and in 1988 toured the USA with Messiaen's Quatuor pour la Fin du Temps. He gave premieres of works by Musgrave, Arnold Cooke, and Alun Hoddinott.