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PETER MOUSAFERIADIS - Director

PETER MOUSAFERIADIS

  

PETER MOUSAFERIADIS

Brief

 

In addition to his role as Director of Hybrid Social Enterprise the PAN Orama Group (Int), and Cultural Infusion, Peter is a composer, conductor and a creative director.

Peter’s experience within the Australian arts community is extensive and diverse. From humble beginnings as one of five children born of Greek immigrant stock, growing up in the back of a milk bar in Newport, in Melbourne’s inner west served as a training ground. Peter’s upbringing was expressly Melbourne, and the local demographic in which he was raised was undeniably multi-cultural.

Music was one of Peter’s first loves, and he has developed what was once a hobby into a genuine passion for all aspects of performance. The leap into the thriving multicultural arts milieu, and the business aspects of cultural advocacy for artists, was not far behind – indeed, one could say, was inevitable, especially according to his colleagues, amongst whom he has garnered great respect over the years.

With a firm goal in mind, Peter undertook two Bachelor of Arts degrees, a major in Music from the Victorian College of the Arts, and a Religious Studies major from Latrobe University.  He is fluent in Modern Greek, and is well-versed in Ancient Greek and Italian.

Feeling that he deserved a sabbatical, Peter embarked on a tour of Europe and America between 1990 and 1995, and still managed to study and conduct - whilst absorbing the diversity of European cultural life, of course!

 

Experience – Cultural Event Management

 

In his current role as director of PAN Events & PAN Event Entertainment, www.panevent.com.au Peter has consistently been at the forefront of provision of quality entertainment programs that have included the highest quality programs of cross-cultural performances. PAN's creative management experience is extensive, as outlined in the PAN company profile.
His 18 years in the event management arena has ensured that Peter has developed an intimate understanding of, and strong rapport with, many of Melbourne’s Non-English Speaking communities. Peter has developed an extensive database and knowledge of cultural groups – PAN's network includes over 2500 music, dance and specialty artists from over 158 ethnic groups.
Peter has been called upon by Greek, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese Communities to assist with programming and staging of some of Melbourne’s most spectacular cultural events and concerts. His reputation as a professional operator is known, and deserved.
Peter believes PAN can offer the any organisation specialist event management services. Artistic direction, strategic planning, well established stakeholder relationships, logistical management, resource management and budget control.
PAN is strongly service-driven and, when combined with an intricate knowledge of Melbourne's culturally diverse communities, can assure clients an overall commitment to quality service.

“Over the course of my life I have had the privileged to enjoy a wide range of theatrical, dance, musical and cultural events throughout the world but the Concert you directed and produced was one of the very best. ……it was memorable for the seamless fusion of many different musical and dance styles cajoling co-operative performances from hundreds of different performers from dozens of disparate culturally diverse artists. ……………..I have been raving about the Voyages Concert to family and friends and have let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they missed one of the great nights of music and theatre that Melbourne has experienced”.
Bruce C Hartnett – Acting Chair Australia Day Committee (2006)

“Peter has been an outstanding collaborator, with a depth of knowledge that is hard to rival, in terms of local and national talent that exemplifies this country’s richness in world music, in cultural fusion and in the creation of exciting and uplifting sounds and spectacle”.
Alison Fraser, Executive Director Australia Day (Victoria)

 

AWARDS

On Sunday 4 June 2006, Peter Mousaferiadis, Chairperson & Founder of   Cultural Infusion & Director of the PAN Orama Group was honoured by Victoria University as a Faculty of Business and Law Legend. Peter was amongst ninety legends recognised by Victoria University for their active contribution over the lifetime of the Faculty of Business and Law.

On the 2nd of December 2005, Peter Mousaferiadis, Executive Director of PAN Event Entertainment (PAN), was presented with the Victorian Business Corporate Award for excellence in multicultural affairs, at Government House, Victoria. It was the culmination of more than a decade of hard work that began with the idea that “the arts and entertainment” was an area that was lacking an appropriate and balanced representation of Australia’s cultural diversity. Peter Mousaferiadis saw the award as a validation of his mission to represent more faithfully Australian identity and culture, by elevating the status of “world artists” from the periphery toward the mainstream.

Peter was delighted to accept the award on the company’s behalf. The award recognises “the inclusive practices and initiatives by a business that utilises and promotes Victoria's multicultural advantage”.

 

 

Peter accepts award from Steve Bracks Dec ‘05

 

July 2000, Peter received the Award for Valuable Contribution to AGAPI Care Inc. AGAPI is an organisation that provides respite and support for children and adults of different abilities. This award was an acknowledgement of Peter’s contribution as a composer and cultural services that assisted and benefited AGAPI.

 

BOARD & COMMITTEE POSITIONS

2006 - Multicultural Arts Advisory Committee 2006
2006 - Melbourne Recital Centre invited to be on workshop committee
2005 ongoing – Chair of Cultural Infusion
2003 – City of Hume invited to be on workshop committee
1997-2001 - Board member of the Footscray Community Arts Centre

 

CULTURAL INFUSION

In 2003, PAN developed a not for profit organisation called Cultural Infusion, a multidisciplinary program utilising art and culture to promote issues of diversity, inclusiveness and harmony.

By 2005, individual programs had been develop for every state and territory in Australia and concert, indigenous, community and touring programs have been added recently.

www.culturalinfusion.com

 

Record Producer - Mabuhay Records

1n 1997, Peter co-founded Mabuhay Records - primarily focused on providing an international platform for multicultural musicians. As the business flourished, over 20 CDs were produced in the space of 18 months! Some of these albums have been licensed to overseas companies and have been used in various TV programs and international documentaries. Two of the CDs became ‘CD of the month’ through a Scandinavian distributor. In 2000, Peter was invited to create a CD to launch the ‘Arts In A Multicultural Australia’ policy for the Australia Council.

(A range of CDs produced by Peter can be issued upon request).

Experience – Conducting

The most energetic musical direction you will ever see made the opening night of this Australian operatic animal “1975” a sight to be seen.” Vanessa Paech from MAGNORMOUS.

Peter has now been conducting for more than 18 years. During this period he has conducted more than 50 music groups in more than 600 concerts, and has developed a passion for championing Australian and Eastern European musical works. From 1995 until 2000 Peter was the Artistic Director of the Orana Chamber Orchestra  . He has conducted over 30 Australian and world premieres and recently conducted the premier performances of the Populist Opera “1975” by acclaimed composer Irini Vela in 2003.
From 1990 – 1994, Peter studied conducting in the Czech Republic, Italy and in the USA. In 2000, Peter was selected to take part in the ABC Symphony Australia’s Conductor Development Program under the distinguished Finnish conductor Jorma Panula as an active master class participant.

“Peter Mousaferiadis maintains the essential choral discipline equally skilfully, particularly during the acapella sections, one of the vocal highlights of the opera 1975”.  - Helen Thomson, THE AGE.

In addition to his current position as Director of PAN Event Entertainment, some of Peter’s previous and ongoing commitments include:

 

Experience - Composition

Peter has also established himself as a composer of lyric melodies. To date he has composed over 100 songs, including the popular oratorio “Snow in Brunswick”, arranged over 500 songs for choirs, and has set music to a documentary and composed for a national radiothon. His music is still receiving regular exposure both here and abroad.

He has composed the music for numerous events including the Opening of the SBS Federation Square Celebrations 2003, and the Voyages Concerts at the Australia Day Celebrations 2004 to 2006.

Peter is currently undertaking an MA with the view of composing his first symphony.