Peter Kay

Peter B. Kay is a composer, administrator, and educator living in the upstate of South Carolina. He currently serves as the Composer-in-Residence of the Spartanburg Philharmonic as well as holding the position of General Manager for the orchestra. As Composer-in-Residence, he has written and arranged several works for the Philharmonic including Phoenix (Cathedral) (2019), commemorating the reopening of Twichell Auditorium at Converse University, Dissent (Notorious) (2021), inspired by the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to be Determined (2021), celebrating the return to live music after the pandemic, his Christmas Suite for Chamber Orchestra (2020), and scores for several silent movies which were performed live alongside showings of the classic films.

A proponent of new classical music, in 2014 Peter founded Treefalls, a non-profit organization dedicated to performing compositions by living, active composers – particularly premieres or music written by under-represented groups. In its 7-years, the organization programmed more than a dozen world premiere performances (many more SC premieres); presented 14 exclusively Treefalls concerts; partnered in multiple additional large-scale New Music events; held 4 local, regional, and international Calls for Scores; and commissioned over a dozen new works by local, living composers.

Peter is also an adjunct instructor of music at Converse University and the adjunct instructor of music composition at Furman University. Peter received his undergraduate degree in music from Furman where he studied with award-winning composer Mark Kilstofte. He went on to receive his graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with composers John Fitz Rogers, Samuel O. Douglas, and Reginald Bain with an emphasis in Music Composition and additional interests in Film Sound and Musical Humor studies.

In his free time, Peter is a freelance graphic designer and photographer.