was raised in Plainview, Long Island, where he played roles in several school musicals, sang in a barbershop quartet and was a devoted member of the Junior High and High School choir. His love of music grew stronger through exposure to opera by his first voice teacher, and at age 17 he was a finalist in the Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition at Lincoln Center. The same year he was granted a Merit Scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, where he would study voice with Jan de Gaetani and graduate with distinction.

 At 19 he sang his first High Holiday services with a large congregation in Rochester. This was followed by three meaningful years of service to Congregation Ohabai Shalom in Nashville, Tennessee prompting him to return to New York and the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music. He was invested as Cantor in 1988, receiving the Morris Smith Prize for excellence in studies.

 Upon graduation, Cantor Peter accepted a position with the Liberal Jewish Communities of the Netherlands where he stayed for ten years. He also davened and concertized in synagogues in Belgium, Germany and England. He sang several opera roles in Holland and recorded extensively with internationally acclaimed Renaissance ensemble Cappella Pratensis, which took him to Poland, Norway, France and Japan.

 Inspired by his experiences in Europe, Cantor Peter composed a group of Friday evening prayer settings and songs, which was published by the URJ’s Transcontinental Music Publisher in 2000 and again in 2005.

 His homeland eventually beckoned him to return and he was Cantor of Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks, California from 1998-2006. During that time he became the proud father of adopted son, Nathan. After a brief time back in the northeast Peter sought the congregational “fit for life” and is thrilled to have joined the Temple Chai family in Phoenix.