Composer and Percussionist Jeffrey Peyton has written works on commission for symphony orchestra, symphonic band, solo percussion, electronic media, and mixed chamber ensembles.
His concert works have been performed extensively throughout the United States (including two premieres at the Percussion Arts Society International Convention) with hundreds of international performances throughout Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada, and South America. Hailed as a performer of “brilliant artistry and dazzling virtuosity,” and as “a composer to be reckoned with,” Jeffrey Peyton consistently demonstrates his passion for the arts in his diverse roles as a composer, percussionist, conductor, educator and advocate.
Mr. Peyton’s unique compositional voice springs from his thirty years of experience as a percussionist and conductor. He received his undergraduate degree from George Fox University, and holds a Masters Degree in performance from the Juilliard School in New York, where he was a full scholarship student of Roland Kohloff and Elden “Buster” Bailey of the New York Philharmonic. During his five years of Doctoral Studies at the University of Oregon School of Music, Mr. Peyton was a composer with Future Music Oregon. His composition teachers include Jeffrey Stolet and Bryan Johanson.
His compositions can be heard on recordings by the Equal Temperament Percussion Duo on the Eroica label, the Third Angle Percussion Quartet on the Gagliano label, and by percussionist Mark Berry on the Equilibrium label. His works have won awards from the Percussive Arts Society and the Society for Electroacoustic Music, and are included in the repertoire lists for many of the premiere university curricula around the world.
Mr. Peyton currently serves as principal timpanist of the Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestra, percussionist with the Portland Opera, and a regular guest percussionist and timpanist with the Oregon Symphony. He has held the positions of principal percussionist of the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Bach Festival and Peter Britt Festival orchestras, and principal timpanist of the Portland Opera, Cascade Festival, West Coast Chamber and Oregon Coast Festival orchestras. While in New York, Mr. Peyton was principal timpanist of the Juilliard Orchestra and section percussionist with the American Symphony and 92nd Street Y Chamber Orchestras. Additional appearances include guest timpanist with the San Diego Symphony and Eugene Opera Orchestras, and guest percussionist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
From 1994-2000, Mr. Peyton served as Artistic Director and conductor of the Third Angle New Music Ensemble in Portland, Oregon, one of the nation’s foremost contemporary chamber music ensembles. Under his leadership, Third Angle experienced explosive growth, receiving enthusiastic critical acclaim for its bold and innovative programming, seven highly successful commercial recordings, and its tireless efforts to promote the creation and performance of American music of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Mr. Peyton has appeared as conductor for numerous ensembles, most notably as Music Director of Third Angle New Music Ensemble and Regular Guest Conductor for the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra, including performances with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra.
Mr Peyton’s performances as percussionist and conductor can be heard on thirteen commercial recordings for the New World, New Albion, Koch International, Gagliano, Hannsler, and Delos labels. Visit the discography page for more information and links to specific recordings.
Currently director of percussion studies at Pacific University and George Fox University, Mr. Peyton has been active in arts education since 1980. He has served as Acting Professor of Music (percussion) at the University of Oregon School of Music (Eugene, OR) and Portland State University Department of Fine and Performing Arts in Portland, OR. His students have been accepted for advanced study at the Juilliard School, Eastman, Peabody Conservatory, University of Michigan, and many other prestigious Schools of Music. He served as President of the Oregon Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society from 1994-96.
For more information on lessons, performances, and press kits, please visit www.jeffreypeytonmusic.com