Musical Director - Peter Kaukiainen

Peter has lived in the  Cygnet area since his arrival in Tasmania in 2017. He  has sung and played with Cygnet Singers frequently. He commences as Cygnet Singers’ Musical Director in February 2025. 

He has an extensive music background. He studied with staff of the Queensland Conservatorium, plays dozens of instruments and has a long history of working with choirs, both youth and adult. His conducting mentors were Richard Gill and George Torbay, and he has conducted massed choirs of up to 900 singers. 

He lived in the Coffs Harbour area for more than 20 years and was Regional Director of the Conservatorium’s Young Voices Choir, regional conductor of the Sing 2001 choir which performed at the Sydney Opera House. He was heavily involved with the NSW Festival of Choral Music and initially part of the Olympic Arts program. 

Peter has been MD of many musicals and has worked with theatre companies as chorus master.

His experience includes directing a  Healing Choir and an Indigenous Women’s Choir.

He is now employed by St James’ College Cygnet, as music teacher, working with both classroom and instrumental programs. 

Accompanist - Di Van Tienen

Di began accompanying the Cygnet Singers in 1985, and has been involved either behind the piano or in the alto section ever since! It has always been a family concern, with her father Vic, husband Joe, and all four children having had some level of involvement through the choir's long history.