Peter Princiotto

Peter Mark Princiotto, composer, musician, and teacher, is based in McLean, Virginia, and is manager of However Publishing LLC (BMI), North America East Recordings LLC, and Spring Hill Music Instruction LLC.

Pete began playing music and writing songs in 1967. Since then, he has concentrated primarily on composing; playing bass guitar, guitar, and keyboards; and singing. He first received musical training in 1972-1974 in the Langley High School Jazz Lab and in the summers of 1973 and 1974 in the Wolf Trap Jazz Ensemble, both under the direction of George J. Horan. As a college undergraduate, Pete attended the New England Conservatory in 1975-1977, where he studied composition with William Thomas McKinley and double bass with Henri Portnoi. He then attended George Mason University in 1978-1979, where he studied composition with Glenn Smith. In 1977-1984, he was a core member of the progressive-rock group However. However has published two recordings: Sudden Dusk released in 1981 on LP and re-released in 1994 on CD; Calling released in 1985 on LP and re-released (with additional tracks) in 1995 on CD. Sudden Dusk was reissued with additional mastering on North America East Recordings on 12/31/09; Calling, with additional mastering and a previously unreleased track, is planned for reissue in 2010. In 1988-1990, Pete attended the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied composition with Morris Moshe Cotel, earning a masters degree in music composition.

In the 1990s, Pete played primarily fretless bass guitar in many recording sessions and in some shows with Paul Reisler and his contemporary folk group Trapezoid. In December of 1992, in Baltimore, Maryland, Pete performed on keyboards with the English musician Richard Sinclair. Pete has performed live as a soloist and in various groups for more than three decades and has been a private music instructor in Northern Virginia since 1974. He also has been commissioned to compose for film and has been published as a writer and transcriber in Bass Player magazine. In 2001-02, in honor of George J. Horan, Pete compiled a collection of recordings of music performed under Horan's direction. In July 2006, Pete was on board with the National Guitar Workshop as a teacher and as an assistant director.

In recent years, Pete has performed with Jim & Ashley Cash; he appears on their CD released in November 2006. Pete also appears on Pedal Giant Animals by Stan Whitaker & Frank Wyatt, which was released in December 2006.

Pete recently completed his solo debut Life's Mystery, which was released online by North America East Recordings on December 12, 2008. All 14 tracks are now available at several online stores including iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, GroupieTunes, Lala, Shockhound and Amie Street. Or go to Pete's Buy CD link. The physical CD is planned for release in 2010.