Eager to contribute to the ever evolving percussion repertoire, Saleh's collaborative work with composer Dajeong 'Juliana' Choi includes 5 world premier performances of her compositions.   He led the commission of composer Bruce Hamilton to write 'Stamino Sosti' for percussion quartet with tape, which he premiered with Exit 9 in May 2008, and performed the world premiere of his Mark Zuckerman commission, "Selah" in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2009.  His own composition for percussion quintet ExitIX Novum received second place in the 2007 PAS Composition Contest and other ensemble scores of his are performed throughout the country.  Additionally, his Trio for Flute, Cello, and Marimba was premiered by the HELIX! contemporary music ensemble.  He is published through Keyboard Percussion Publications, Innovative Percussion, Drop6 Media, and RowLoff Productions.

In addition to the above and freelance work in New Jersey including the Greenwich Village Singers, the Monmouth Symphony, and Bravura Philharmonic, he has also performed steadily for years as a modern dance musician in NJ and NY, blending his affinity for improvised music with an inventive ‘multi-percussionist’s’ approach.  In addition to scoring works by NJ/NY choreographers, Peter has appeared at ACDFA, performedand worked with Paulette Sears and Julia Ritter, and was the resident composer/accompanist for Christian Von Howard at ‘Terpsichore III’ in South Carolina and with Paul Taylor Alumna Raegan Wood at SYPW since 2006 at Newark, NJ's NJPAC, where he scores a brand new 25-minute work of choreography every summer. 

As an educator, Saleh has placed students into some of the percussion best programs in the country, including the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, founded and directs the Central Jersey Youth Percussion Ensemble, guest-lectured at Rutgers University and the Juilliard pre-college, and fellowed at the University of North Texas, and has served as a teaching artist for the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Young Audiences of NJ.   He is also on faculty for the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey and the newly formed Mason Gross Extension Division, the pre-college arts program at Rutgers University, and is a member of BMI and PAS.  His conducting experiences extend past those of the premieres of his own music, to that of Warren Benson, Carlos Chavez, David Gillingham, and others.  Saleh was also a performer with the 1998 Crossmen  and 1996-1997 Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps and has been able to apply that experience to several award winning high school programs since then.

Saleh holds Bachelors or Arts and Bachelors of Music Performance degrees from Rutgers University and a Masters degree in percussion performance with a minor in composition from the University of North Texas.  He is grateful to have studied with fantastic teachers including Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Tommy Igoe, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Ed Soph, Leigh Stevens, and She-e Wu as well as composition with Dr. Joseph Klein, Dr. John Mallia, and Dr. James Worlton.

                                                                                                                            (Short Bio)

Recent News:

5/21/09:  Shannon MacDowell's choreography, "Timeless, here" for which the score 'Not For' was written, will be presented at a program entitled Launchpad at the Ailey Theater in NYC this fall.  More info to follow. . .

5/17/09:  Congratulations to my students Joe Kelly and Andrew Stenvall on their acceptance to the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School (respectively) for their undergraduate degrees.  Also, congratulations to members of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey on a successful concert and performance year. 

4/27/09:  Many thanks to Joe Tompkins, Nate Sankary, and the Rutgers University Percussion Ensemble for a spirited performance of my piece, ExitIX Novum.

2/17/09:  I will be performing solo concerts and masterclasses in Taiwan and Korea this March.  See the 'Calendar' page for details.  My program 'Mostly Multi' (see the Facebook event of the same name) includes pieces I have a strong connection with, with works by Hamilton, Choi, Becker, Assad, Bach, and a preview performance of Mark Zuckerman's new solo multi percussion work, 'Selah.'

Also, The Rutgers University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Joe Tompkins, will be performing my award winning compostion, 'ExitIX Novum' on Saturday, April 25,  8pm at Nicholas Music Center.

1/7/09:  I can be see on TV performing Mark Zuckerman's, "The Outlaw and The King" on the New Jersey Network’s “State of the Arts” show with the segment, scheduled to air 8:30 PM Friday, January 16 (replayed 11:30 PM Wed., 1/21).  Please visit NJN.net for the NJN channel in your area or to view online.

***NEW***Also, here is a recording of my recent score for modern dance, Not For.

11/7/08:  My new score, "Not For," a collaboration with choreographer Shannon MacDowell, is set to premiere this weekend (11/8 and 11/9) at the Mason Gross Dance concert, 'Synergy'.  Audio and video will be coming soon.

11/5/08:  Congratulations to my student, percussionist Joe Kelly, on making first place All-Eastern Orchestra!

10/5/08:  Video of the Exit 9/Von Howard/Saleh collaboration, This Will Hurt Nobody is now posted.

News Archive

Performance Clips:

Publishing info is credited in the file where applicable

• Solo/Chamber Percussion Repertoire

• 'Siciliano' from Sonata no. 1 in G Minor by J. S. Bach  (solo marimba)

• Lahara by Bob Becker (tenor drum solo)

• 'Canaries' from Eight Pieces for Four Timpani by Elliot Carter (timpani solo)

• Etude no. 1 from 'Douze Etudes' by Jacques Delecluse  (snare drum solo)

• Rechargeable Light by Brett Dietz  (multi-percussion solo with tape)

• Interzones by Bruce Hamilton  (vibraphone solo with tape)

• Raghavan by Russell Hartenberger  (multi-percussion solo)

• Carpe Diem by Susan Powell (multi-percussion duet with percussionist Dylan Frank)

• Matre's Dance by John Psathas (duet featuring pianist Nathan Ratliff)

• Concerto for Percussion, Mvt. I by Joseph Schwantner (with pianist Anastasia Markina)

• Concerto for Percussion, Mvt. II by Joseph Schwantner (with pianist Anastasia Markina)

• Concerto for Percussion, Mvt. III by Joseph Schwantner, cadenza by Peter Saleh (with pianist Anastasia Markina)

• Palindromes by Jared Soldiviero (multi-percussion duet featuring percussionist Mike Ramsey)

• Merlin by Andrew Thomas (marimba solo)

Wind Ensemble

• Suite in F for Military Band by Gustav Holst (snare drum excerpts)

• Suite in F for Military Band by Gustav Holst ('pop-up' video, same audio)

Drum Set

• If by Larry Young/Elvin Jones, dr. (check out my drum set transcriptions)

• 'Songo' from Tommy Igoe's "Groove Essentials" Method Book

Music for Dance

• Floor Warmup - Piano (technique class segment)

• 'Adagio' - Marimba (technique class segment)

• Degage - Cajon (technique class segment)

• 'Battlement' - Hand Drum Setup (technique class segment)

• ALL the Notes - Hand Drum Setup (technique class segment)

• Across the Floor - Hand Drum Setup (technique class segment)

• Algebra - Hand Drum Setup (technique class segment)

• 'Red' - Multi Percussion - SYPW Performance

• This Will Hurt Nobody - Exit 9 (NEW)

Conducting/Compositions/Coachings

• Excerpts from Stained Glass by David Gillingham (conducting)

• Premiere performance of my quartet Themes and Distractions (conducting)

• Premiere performance of my Medieval Variations for Two Marimbas

Rudimental Drumming

• Exit 9 percussion group's trademark Stool and Bucket Thing 2006 (Audio only)