Peter Welffens was born in Antwerp on 7 May 1924, the son of a father originally from Hanover. Because his father was a professional musician, he was familiar with the music world from a young age. He studied first at St John Berchmans College in his native city. This institute had links with the famous Antwerp Cathedral choir, which was led at the time by Canon Striels. The young Welffens became a member of the choir and the experience that he gained there was decisive in his eventual decision to become a professional musician. He pursued his studies at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, where he earned first prizes for harmony (Jef Vanhoof, 1934), piano (Marinus de Jong, 1947) and counterpoint (Karel Candael, 1949). In 1945 Welffens was named music director of the Royal Youth Theatre in Antwerp, a position he held until 1989. In the 1950s, Welffens took summer courses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg (including composition with Wolfgang Fortner and orchestral conducting with Igor Markevich). He subsequently appeared a number of times as guest conductor at the Royal Flemish Opera. In 1981 he began to teach practical harmony at the Antwerp conservatory. Welffens’ work received numerous prizes, including the Edward Keurvels Prize in 1965 for his collected work for the Royal Youth Theatre. In 1997 he won the Sabam Prize. Peter Welffens died on 11 February 2003 in Deurne.

Selective bibliography
- E. ABRATH, Vlaamse componisten, in Even aanzoemen, 6, 1999, p. 4-5
- L. DIELTIENS, Memorabele Meesters, Peter Welffens, in ANZ, 3, 1990, p. 52-53
- L. EECKHAUT, Peter Welffens, een no(od)tenkraker, in Forum, 4, 2000, p. 22-24
- H. HEUGHEBAERT, art. Peter Welffens, in Algemene muziekencyclopedie uitg.dr. J.Robijns en M.Zijlstra, vol.10, Amsterdam, 1972, p. 244-245
- L. LEYTENS, De muziek in het kader van het Rubensjaar te Antwerpen, in Het Belgisch muziekleven, 1, 1977, p. 21-22
- L. LEYTENS, De Vlaamse componisten en het Rubensjaar, in Het Belgisch muziekleven, 2, 1977, p. 53
- J. RAICICH, Peter Welffens vijftig jaar, in Gamma, 4, 1974, p. 155-157
- H. STUBBE, De dagboeken van Peter Welffens, in Muziek en Woord, 176, 1989, p. 6
- H.Aelvoet, Jan Dewilde, 'Spaar het kind': peter Welfens en het Koninklijk jeugdtheater, in Forum, jg 20 nr. 4, 2013, p. 11-15

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