Peter Dominguez

Artistic Director

Peter grew up in Milwaukee playing with his father, pianist and singer Frank DeMiles.  His teachers included Bernard Stepner, Clyde Russell, Willard Feldman, and Mitchell Covic.  Peter went on to study with Roger Ruggeri and Richard Davis at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earn his baccalaureate and masters degrees.  In 1980 he was the first recipient of the Milton J. Hinton scholarship competition award and continued doctoral studies with Dr Lucas Drew at the University of Miami, Coral Gables.   Eventually securing positions in both the Florida Philharmonic and Michigan State University, Peter chose MSU, served as Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies 1984-96, and was instrumental in developing their Jazz Studies program. 

During his Michigan years, he continued his studies with Robert Gladstone.  Peter is currently Professor of Jazz Studies and Double Bass at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and is on the board of the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassist and co- coordinates the foundation’s annual conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Having pursued for 40 years double bass performance practice in a variety of musical styles and appeared in venues throughout the Americas and Europe, Peter has performed with the Miami String Quartet, the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, the St. Petersburg Quartet, the Roycroft Chamber Players, The Fontana Chamber Players and as principal bass with the American Sinfonietta (10 years), Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra (12 years), Jackson Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, and as section bassist with the Miami Chamber Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Peter has also appeared in Jazz performances with Benny Carter, Tommy Flanagan, Jon Hendricks, J.J. Johnson, John Lewis, Mark Murphy, Woody Shaw and Ira Sullivan. His CD entitled ‘How About This” features drummer Billy Hart and pianist Rick Germanson.  More information can be found at peterdominguezmusic.com.