Peter Comerford – – (Groton, NY) received his bachelors degree in music education from The Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York where studied trumpet in the studio of John Ellis and French horn with Roy Shaberg. He received his masters degree in instrumental conducting at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he studied with Stephen Peterson, Donald Owens, and the late, great band master John P. Paynter. Though a native of New Hampshire, Peter has established his professional career in New York State having taught high school instrumental music first at Penn Yan Academy in the Finger Lakes Region, and then in South Colonie Central schools in Albany. An affinity for aleotoric and spatial music has always influenced his programming and lead him to arrange works giving his students chances to explore new musical techniques, timbres, improvisation and theatrical elements.
Mr. Comerford has been a guest conductor throughout the northeast including all county festival bands and a variety of chamber ensembles. Peter has worked in administration at Skidmore College where he co-instructed “Stravinsky and Balanchine: A Union of Minds” with renown author Charles Joseph. Peter is a frequent adjudicator of concert bands, marching bands, drum corps, winter guards, and has served as Music Caption Coordinator of the New York Federation of Contest Judges. As a clinician, he has spoken at a variety of colleges and at the NYSSMA Winter Conference where he most presented “Musicality in the Modern Marching Band” which focused on ensuring high level of musical and interpretive standards in all marching musical ensembles. His work as show designer for the Shenendehowa and Naples high school winter guards has led these fine groups to earn numerous state titles as well as WGI Regional and World Championship finalist appearances. Peter currently works in music business as an educational specialist at Hickey’s Music Center in Ithaca where he works with outstanding musicians to uphold the company’s goals of providing excellent service and products to customers in the Ithaca area, New York State, the United States and across the globe.