Originally from New York, Peter now lives in Oakton, Virginia. After earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Peter joined Mobil Oil Corporation in 1968. During his satisfying 32-year career, he worked in 5 petroleum refineries and 3 Headquarters locations. His assignments covered a broad range of business areas, including process engineering, economics, planning, scheduling, marketing, budget, finance, supply, transportation, financial analysis and management.  

After demonstrating above-average musical aptitude as a young child and an attraction to the piano, he received two years of piano lessons.  However, his current play-by-ear skills have been largely self-taught.  His involvement in music was limited during his college days and subsequent career, but has accelerated rapidly, along with his accordion playing, since his retirement from Mobil in 2000.  Peter is presently affiliated with the Washington Balalaika Society (Principal 3rd accordion), the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (President), the American Accordionists Association, the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, and the Accordions for Kids program offered by Accordions Plus.  He also performs, solo and with small ensembles, at parties and celebrations, weddings, grand openings, public and private concerts, fundraisers, and music clubs and festivals.  He has several original compositions to his credit, some of which have won awards.  He can play hundreds of songs without written music, covering music for all seasons and a wide range of genres, and is equally comfortable sitting or strolling, playing solo or accompanying singers, playing “Name That Tune,” or jamming with other musicians.
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