PETER J. FELICE (b. 1981) is a composer of instrumental music whose style seamlessly blends contemporary elements with Neo-classical and romantic traditions. He holds a Bachelor of Art's degree in Music Composition at Indiana University Southeast and a Master of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University. Peter has studied composition under the guidance of Steve Rouse, Erich Stem, Timothy Miller, and Mark Sullivan.
An active educator and conductor, Peter has served as the Director of Bands and Choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School since 2023, and also serves as the middle school band director at Immaculate Heart of Mary. He has also recently served as the director of the East Deanery Band Festival held at Scecina Memorial High School, where he served as the Interim Band Director for four months. Peter has also served actively as a low brass specialist and adjudicator at various schools and events including Lafayette High School, Roncalli High School, the Central Indiana Beginning Honors Band, The Catholic Youth Organization, and the Indiana’s own INPACT and BANDTASTIC bands in association with the Drum Corps International World Championships.
As a composer, his catalog spans a diverse range of internationally recognized and commissioned works. Notably, his piece for Saxophone and Piano titled ‘Shadows of Paris’ was featured on Cory Barnfield’s second album, Out of this World. His acclaimed euphonium solo was selected as the 2023 student division test piece for the prestigious Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. Mostly recently he was commissioned by the Shelby Community Band to write Totality (2024), a monumental piece celebrating Indiana’s first total solar eclipse in over a millennium, which premiered the day before the historic event. Peter’s earlier honors include an honorable mention for Stages of Tragedy in the 2009 Humboldt State University Composition for Brass. In 2013, his piano trio Starfield won the innaugural Michigan State University Ensemble Composition Competition, and Celestial Shadows was the winner of the 2015 MSU Honors Competition, judged by none other than Augusta Read Thomas.
A native of Lexington, Ky, Peter’s rich background as a low brass performer includes playing with ensembles such as the The University of Louisville Wind Symphony, The Derby City Brass Band, The IU Southeast Concert Band and Orchestra, The Louisville Philharmonia and serving as principal baritone and Euphonium for the Commonwealth Brass Band before. He has studied Euphonium with Brian Meixner, John R. Jones, Christopher Bettler, Phil Sinder and the late Mildred Kemp. He currently performs on euphonium with the Shelby Community Band.
Peter resides in Beech Grove, Indiana with his wife and their two pets.