Peter Roberts – peter@hpcusa.org
Peter Roberts is a pianist, vocalist, composer, and improviser originally from Independence, IA. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with both a BA, minor in jazz studies, and MA in piano performance. There he studied classical piano with Sean Botkin, jazz piano with Bob Washut, and jazz improvisation/composition with Chris Merz and Bob Washut. While studying he gave two recitals, played, recorded, and composed for the UNI Jazz Band One, and accompanied the choirs Concert Choral and UNI Singers.
Peter brings a variety of musical influences to the music at Heartland. His favorite jazz artist is pianist Brad Mehldau. Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, and Craig Taborn are also artists that have influenced him greatly. Peter’s most loved classical composers are Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Samuel Barber. He has also enjoys the electronic music of Bjork, Imogen Heap, and Knower as well as the popular songs of Mumford and Sons, Incubus, and Paul Simon.
Peter currently lives in Urbandale with his wife Joslyn, daughter Claire, and son Ellis. They share the house with one dog and two cats (all rescued). They like listing and dancing to music as a family, going to the library, feeding the birds (and squirrels), and playing Mario and Zelda on Nintendo.
Outside of Heartland, he is a staff accompanist at Drake University, a studio teacher at West Music Piano Gallery in Urbandale, a commissioned composer for Bel Canto Cedar Valley, and an active jazz performer and freelance accompanist in the Des Moines area.