Peter McLaren was born in Scarborough (Yorkshire) and was brought up in York where he became a boy chorister in York Minster Choir. He studied music at Huddersfield College School of Music and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In the seventies and early eighties he taught music in London primary schools and in private practice. This was followed by thirty years of private piano and voice teaching, composition and accompaniment work in Warwickshire. After several years of deepening attachment to the Isle of Skye, he settled in Broadford to teach and to make music there. Apart from his piano music Peter has had a lot of music performed over the years including vocal and instrumental music for many school productions, chamber music, a piece for large ensemble and a pantomime.