About

Dr Peter Ratnik: PhD, M.Mus, AmusA, RMA, FAC

Dr Peter Ratnik was born in Melbourne Australia, a former professional Tubaist and Double Bassist, Dr Ratnik has performed with Military & Concert Bands, Brass Bands in Australia and the UK as well he has performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The State Orchestra of Victoria, Australian Pops Orchestra, The Irish Guards (UK). Whilst in the Australian Army Dr Ratnik played with the Australian Army Band Melbourne and the Royal Australian Artillery Band. Dr Ratnik has adjudicated in Australia & UK (Brass & Concert Band) as well as visiting clinician in the UK, Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, Queensland) and USA.

Peter was awarded a Masters of Music from the University of Melbourne and PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Dr Ratnik is and was a member of numerous musical and educational societies including, VBL (Victorian Bands League former board member), TASME (Tasmanian Society of Music Educators current board member), ABODA (Australian Band & Orchestral Directors Association former board member).

Dr Ratnik studied conducting with Squadron Leader R.A.Y Mitchell AM (Director of Music RAAF), Derek J.Humphrey OAM (Band of the Scots Guards UK, RAAF Band), Pierre Boulez (Europe) and John Hopkins AM, OBE. Conducting has taken Dr Ratnik all over the world. Whilst in the UK was a grand finalist in the European Young Conductors competition, Gothenburg, Sweden and was professional & resident conductor of numerous orchestras and brass bands in England & Scotland from 2nd section through to championship section as well as BrassAid UK. In Australia. Dr Ratnik was chief conductor of Orchestra d’Sound (WA), Albury Symphony Orchestra (NSW), University of Melbourne Engineering Orchestra (VIC), University of Melbourne Doctors Orchestra, Edinburgh University Music Society Symphony Orchestra (UK), St Andrews Choral Society (UK), Director of Music St Davids Cathedral (Hobart), the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay Victoria and was commissioned to compose the opening work for mass wind bands. Other conductorships where of the Melbourne 150th Youth Symphonic Band, Greater Bendigo Concert Brass, Morwell City Band as well as numerous school bands which included Balmoral High School, Baimbridge College, Laverton Secondary College, Footscray City Secondary College, S. Anselm’s (UK) & St Leonards School (UK), Aspen High School (USA) Yampa High School (USA)

Dr Ratnik has written over 400 compositions and arrangements with over 40 being commissions from around the world including the US, UK, Europe and Australia. Some of these are published in the USA, Europe, UK and Australia for Wind Band, Orchestra, String Orchestra, Choir, Brass Band, Wind ensembles, Brass Ensembles and he has composed four (4) symphonies for wind band and sonatas for Flute, Clarinet, Tuba, Euphonium and Piano. Many of Dr Ratnik’s works are recorded by bands such as Black Dyke (England), Whitburn Brass Band (Scotland), 13 Etoiles (Switzerland), numerous concert bands in France and Switzerland and military bands Musique Principale de l’Armee de Terre, Musique Principale de Marine and Musique de la Gendarmerie (France).

Dr Ratnik , Director of the M-Con (Conservatorium Charles Sturt University), Director of Music in both Independent and state prep/primary and High schools in Scotland, England and Australia. Dr Ratnik has served on the Victorian Bands League State executive and ABODA (Australian Band and Orchestral Directors Association) Victorian State Executive and is fiercely passionate about music education and the development of community banding.

As a professional musician (Double Bass/Tuba) Peter has performed with State Orchestra of Victoria, Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s, Australian National Music camp (composition ), Whilst a studio session player and on films (Heart Break Kid) many choirs and choral societies, Australia’s leading Brass Bands and UK, Australian Army Band Melbourne, State Youth Symphonic Band, Yamaha Victorian Festival band, Dramus Theatre, Crail Theatre Company UK, Darrengurk Players, Altona Theatre Company, Williamstown Players, plus many pit orchestras.

Peter has toured Europe twice, all of Asia and the USA with various professional ensembles (Orchestras, Jazz Bands and mixed ensembles) and jazz bands which have included performers such as Kenny Ball (Norway/Sweden, UK), Kate Cebrano, Rolf Harris, Don Burrows, John Sangster, Judith Durham (Seekers), James Morrison, Riki May, Musician Union Show Band, Johnny Hawker Big Band, Graham Bell, Johnny Hawker, Adrian Rawlins, Juliann Wilson, Eugene Ball, Nina Ferro, Sammy Remington (UK, AUST) etc. Dr Ratnik as played at various jazz festivals including, Birmingham Jazz Fest, Silda Jazz Fest(Norway), St Raphael Jazz Fest (France), Sebastien Bouchet, Marlborough Jazz Fest (UK), Monsalvat Jazz Fest (Aust), Melbourne International Festival of Jazz, Merimbula Jazz Festival, Swiss Jazz Fest, Gold Coast International Jazz Fest (Aust), Monsalvat Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival, Australian Jazz Convention, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, plus hundreds of clubs and pubs throughout Australia, Europe and New Zealand