Peter was born and raised in the Catskill Mountains/Mid-Hudson Valley. It was at Millbrook where he first learned to play the fiddle, and he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in history from Hartwick College. After serving as director of technology for a Boston-based law firm, he attended the University of Massachusetts-Boston and obtained a master’s degree in secondary education. He taught history in the Boston Public School system until 2011 when he returned to the Hudson Valley to work with at-risk adolescents at Family of Woodstock. Peter first became involved at the Ashokan Center in 2013 when he became the volunteer coordinator for the winter and summer Hoots. In the fall of 2015, Peter joined the staff at the Ashokan Center, where he brought together his love of music, nature, and history. In 2017 Peter became the managing director.

For over 50 years the Ashokan Center has been a leader in high-quality outdoor and environmental education programs. This year, over 5,000 young people, mostly 4th-6th graders, will participate in these programs. For over 40 years the Center has been home to the world-renowned Ashokan Music & Dance Camps hosted by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason. These camps provide a wide range of music instruction on many different instruments for people of all ages.