Peter den Ouden
Areas of Interest
International, Music, EducationHonorary Award
Honorary Doctor of Music, 1995Biography
Peter den Ouden is a teacher, musician and Head of the Department of Music Education at the Amsterdam School of Arts. His relationship with Anglia began back 1991 when he paid his first visit to the University. It is a relationship that soon blossomed and he subsequently became a great supporter of the University, helping to develop its links within Europe. He has enabled many of our students to visit the Netherlands for short courses and concert tours. Many members of staff have also had the opportunity to take part in exchange visits. Peter has long been committed to developing the quality of music education, both in his native Netherlands and throughout Europe. During his tenure as President of the European Association for Music in Schools he developed links with colleagues in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. He has also been a significant influence on the development of the Music programmes at Anglia Ruskin.
In 1995 Peter den Ouden was made an Honorary Doctor of Music.
Citation
"The Senate of Anglia Polytechnic University has great pleasure in awarding Peter den Ouden an Honorary Doctor of Music.
Peter den Ouden is Head of the Department of Music Education at the Amsterdam School of Arts, a network of major higher education institutions in the visual and performing arts including the Sweelinck and Hilversum Conservatoires.
Since his first visit to Anglia in 1991, Peter den Ouden has become a strong supporter of this University, in particular helping to further its links throughout Europe. At his invitation, Anglia students have visited the Netherlands for short courses and concert tours; and nine members of the Amsterdam and Anglia staff have taken part in exchange visits. Colleagues involved in Anglia's music education provision in Brentwood and at the Colchester Institute have also participated in these links.
Groups of Dutch music education students have worked with their Anglia counterparts, most recently on a project forming part of the European Union Arts Education & Training Initiative.
Peter den Ouden has been a frequent visitor to Anglia. Throughout these visits he has been keen to learn more about the University and its work; in turn, his wide experience has enabled him to make a perceptive contribution to the development of our programmes of study.
As Past-President of the European Association for Music in Schools he has been especially committed to developing subject links with colleagues in Eastern Europe. He has visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia as a visiting speaker on a number of occasions and he is equally well-known in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Austria. He is also active as an organist and choral director. On his last visit to Anglia he chaired an international conference on music education which attracted over 100 delegates from 21 European states.
The Honorary Doctorate of Music is awarded by the Senate in recognition of Peter den Ouden's distinguished career and for the contributions he has made to the development of the University's Music programmes of study. We are delighted to welcome him here again today to honour his achievements."