BKJ Publications

Peter Hazzard attended Boston University and graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BM in composition in 1971. Upon graduation, he was asked to join the faculty, teaching theory, composition, music history & conducting. In 1977, Mr. Hazzard became Chair of the Traditional Studies Dept. and was appointed conductor of the Berklee Concert Band.  In 1983, he was appointed Director of Music at Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA. During his 30-year tenure at Lawrence, he conducted instrumental ensembles, chorus, founded the school's co-ed a cappella group SLACS, and was musical director for more than  35 musicals. When he retired in 2013, he found that he wasn't quite ready to stop teaching and has spent the last 12 years teaching in two NH Charter High Schools. At Arts Academy of New Hampshire he developed the music program and taught until Covid in 2020. He currently is one of three music teachers at The Founders Academy in Manchester (NH) where he directs the HS Chorus and teaches electives in Theory, Acoustics, History of Rock & Roll and Music in The Movies. In September of 2025 he will begin his 55th year as a music ecucator and conductor. In his parallell career as a composer and arranger, Mr. Hazzard has amassed a catalog of more than 80 instrumental and choral works in the chamber and orchestral field as well as a large number of orchestral and vocal arrangements including more than 50 a cappella settings of classic and contemporary pop and rock tunes. His music can be found at J.W. Pepper, Subito Music Co., and BKJ Publications. He has also authored two books. Behind the Baton (2020) is a reference for conductors of high school, collegiate or community chorus, concert band, and orchestra. It provides many helpful tips and suggestions for planning, preparing, and performance.  ALLEGRO con molto grazie (2023) is Mr. Hazzard's memoir of his long and fascinating dual career in the worlds of professional music and music education. Both books are available in electronic or paperback, and can be found on Amazon. Mr. Hazzard may be reached at bkjpubs@gmail.com or p.hazzard@tfanh.org.