Peter’s music studies began at the young age of 6, influenced by his mother Carmen Gorak (Principal Violist of the Bremerton Symphony and Founder/Director of Home School Strings in Kitsap, WA). He began his studies on violin with his mother and then continued with Helena Emery. At the age of 8, Peter began studying piano and gained a majority of his musicianship from Kenneth Moses. Glenn Prindle also assisted Peter in his piano studies, especially with accompanying. At the age of 10, Peter discovered his passion for viola and transitioned from violin with the instruction of Alicia Rinehart and Reid Blickenstaff while still continuing his studies in violin and piano.
Peter received his Bachelor’s in Viola Performance at Central Washington University in 2013, studying with Timothy Betts. He was appointed as Principal Violist in the university’s symphony orchestra for his junior and senior years. Peter then traveled across the country to gain his Master’s in Viola Performance from University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music (CCM) on scholarship. He graduated in 2015 and primarily studied with Dr. Catherine Carroll, Dr. Masao Kawasaki, and Rebecca Barnes. While at CCM he was appointed Principal Violist for both the Concert and Philharmonia orchestras. Peter has worked with esteemed orchestral musicians such as Timothy Lees, Denisse Rodriguez, Christian Colberg, Matthew Daline, Brian Quincey, Joyce Ramee, and John Scanlon. He has also collaborated with pianists such as Dr. Edward Neeman and Dr. Duane Funderburk.
Peter has performed locally in Cincinnati with the Cincinnati Ballet, Queen City Chamber Opera, NANOWorks, Sassmannhaus workshops, and the ArtsGala at Wright State University. Previously in the Northwest, Peter performed with the Yakima Symphony, Mid-Columbia Symphony, Wenatchee Symphony, and the Bremerton Symphony. He has also gained professional development in the areas of orchestral and chamber music playing from the Brevard Music Center, Kairos Lyceum, Chamber Music Madness and Camp Nirvana.
In 2016, Peter helped found and organize the New World Chamber Players which is an ensemble of orchestral string players who tour in China annually as well as actively perform in Cincinnati.