Hailed as a performer of “brilliant artistry and dazzling virtuosity,” Jeffrey Peyton possesses extensive experience and passion in his diverse roles as a percussionist, conductor, composer, and educator.
Percussionist Jeffrey Peyton
Mr. Peyton currently serves as principal timpanist of the Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestra,percussionist with the Portland Opera, and a regular guest percussionist and timpanist with the Oregon Symphony.
During the course of his nearly 30-year career, Mr. Peyton has held the positions of principal percussionist of the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Bach Festival and Peter Britt Festival orchestras, and principal timpanist of the Portland Opera, Cascade Festival, West Coast Chamber and Oregon Coast Festival orchestras. While in New York, Mr. Peyton was principal timpanist of the Juilliard Orchestra and section percussionist with the American Symphony and 92nd Street Y Chamber Orchestras. Additional appearances include guest timpanist with the San Diego Symphony and Eugene Opera Orchestras, and guest percussionist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
An active conductor of orchestra, bands and chamber ensembles, Mr. Peyton currently directs the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra, an elite ensemble comprised of 90 high school students chosen by competitive audition in Portland, OR .
He has recently served as Acting Director of Orchestra Studies, Acting Director of Bands, and Acting Director of Percussion Studies at Portland State University, and has held academic and conducting posts at Lewis and Clark College, University of Oregon, Pacific University and George Fox University.
The regular guest conductor of the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra since 1996, Mr. Peyton has appeared as guest conductor of the Eugene Symphony, Anchorage Symphony, Eugene Youth Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Peter Britt Festival, the Oregon Bach Festival, Cascade Music Festival, and the Oregon Festival of American Music. From 1995-2000 Mr. Peyton served as Music Director and conductor of the Third Angle New Music Ensemble, raising the artistic and national reputation of the ensemble to critical acclaim.
An active solo recitalist and chamber musician, Mr. Peyton has performed in Alice Tully, Merkin, and CAMI Halls in New York and throughout the United States. He has appeared with chamber groups as diverse as the Harry Partch Ensemble and Chamber Music Northwest, and as an advocate for new music for percussion has performed over 40 world premieres, many of which were written for him. From 1994-2000, Mr. Peyton served as Artistic Director of the Third Angle New Music Ensemble in Portland, one of the nation’s foremost contemporary chamber music ensembles. Under his leadership, Third Angle experienced explosive growth, receiving enthusiastic critical acclaim for its bold and innovative programming and its highly successful commercial recordings. Mr. Peyton was a member of the Third Angle Percussion Quartet, whose “Junkyard Concerts” remain a critical and artistic highlight in the ensemble’s history.
A published composer, Mr. Peyton’s concert works have been performed extensively throughout the United States, including premieres at the Percussion Arts Society International Convention (twice), and international premieres in Taiwan, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, China, Belgium, Germany, and Mexico, among others. His works have been featured on three commercial recordings on the Eroica and Equilibrium record labels. His concert works are published by Cascadia Publications, and educational titles are published by Alfred Publishing.
Mr Peyton’s performances as percussionist and conductor can be heard on thirteen commercial recordings for the New World, New Albion, Koch International, Gagliano, Hannsler, and Delos labels. Visit the discography page for more information and links to specific recordings.
You may contract Jeff at jeffrey,peyton@gmail.com