Felix Mendelssohn once said that “…what the music I love expresses to me are thoughts not too indefinite for words, but rather too definite,” while Goethe described chamber music as “four rational people conversing.” Exchange of ideas with people is one of Peter's favorite things in life and in music. Playing the violin provides almost unlimited opportunities for rich and stimulating musical experiences through collaborations, because violin is perhaps the most social of all instruments.

 

Peter started playing chamber music with his parents at age 11, and to this day, it is his favorite form of music-making.  Together with his wife, pianist Ya-Ting Chang, he gets to perform and record some of the best repertoire as part of the Mendelssohn Piano Trio. Other memorable chamber music projects include sharing a stage with his mentors, Earl Carlyss and Ann Schein; performing the complete Mozart String Quintets for the WETA-sponsored Mozart’s 250th birthday celebrations at the Austrian Embassy in Washington; and performing for BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall with the Moscow Soloists.

 

Peter approaches his work as concertmaster of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra a lot like chamber music collaboration but with a larger group of excellent musicians.  Even when he gets to perform with an orchestra as a soloist, it is a project involving dozens of musicians on stage. Fundamentally, it is the connection on a level more subtle than verbal that makes a meaningful musical experience.

 

Depending on the repertoire, Peter performs either on the violin made by Leonid Ferents in 2013 or on the violin made by Matthias Albanius in 1706.