Peter Dickinson was born in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire; went to Cambridge as Organ Scholar of Queens’ College; then spent three formative years in New York. His music has been widely performed by leading performers for many years. There are four full CDs on Albany; three on Naxos; and six on Heritage of his performances or music; two CDs of chamber music will be released in 2018. As a pianist Dickinson had a twenty-five-year partnership with his sister, mezzo Meriel Dickinson. His books include studies of Lennox Berkeley (two), Billy Mayerl, Aaron Copland, John Cage, Lord Berners, and Samuel Barber.

He is an Emeritus Professor of the Universities of Keele and London and chair of the Bernarr Rainbow Trust.