Malcolm Peyton

Malcolm Cameron Peyton (January 12, 1932 – January 26, 2025) was an American composer, concert director, conductor and teacher. Life and career Peyton was born in New York City on January 12, 1932. He grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, and received early classical training in piano starting at age 6, and in trumpet starting at age 9. From 1950 to 1956 he attended Princeton University for both undergraduate and graduate training in musical composition, studying with Edward T. Cone and Roger Sessions, and was awarded a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship. In 1956–57 Peyton traveled on a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany to study with Wolfgang Fortner. From 1958 through 1961 Peyton, along with Edward T. Cone and William Carlin, initiated a series of contemporary chamber music concerts in New York presenting many new works. After joining the faculty at New England Conservatory (NEC) in 1965, Peyton directed with Lyle Davidson Evenings of New Music, the first continuous contemporary music series at NEC, until 1972. Subsequently Peyton directed the Composer’s Series at NEC, presenting works by faculty, invited guests, and students in NEC’s Jordan Hall. Peyton lectured at Boston University i