About
Composer
Peter B. Kay is a composer who combines classical traditions with contemporary techniques and modern folk & pop influences resulting in a voice that is both fresh and familiar. Composer-in-Residence for the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Peter also currently serves as the Philharmonic's General Manager and Graphic Designer. He has written and arranged several works for the Philharmonic including Phoenix (Cathedral) (2019), commemorating the reopening of Twichell Auditorium at Converse University, Dissent (Notorious) (2021), inspired by the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to be Determined (2021), celebrating the return to live music after the pandemic, his Christmas Suite for Chamber Orchestra (2020), and scores for several silent movies which were performed live alongside showings of the classic films.
Peter received his undergraduate degree in music from Furman University where he studied with award-winning composer Mark Kilstofte. He went on to receive his graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with composers John Fitz Rogers, Samuel O. Douglas, and Reginald Bain with an emphasis in Music Composition and additional interests in Film Sound and Musical Humor studies.
New Music Advocacy
A proponent of new classical music, in 2014 Peter founded Treefalls, a non-profit organization dedicated to performing compositions by living, active composers – particularly premieres or music written by under-represented groups. In its 7-years, the organization programmed more than a dozen world premiere performances (many more SC premieres); presented 14 exclusively Treefalls concerts; partnered in multiple additional large-scale New Music events; held 4 local, regional, and international Calls for Scores; and commissioned over a dozen new works by local, living composers.
About
Graphic Designer
Peter B. Kay enjoys designing for a broad range of clients, but he is particularly interested in projects that involve musical elements. Working primarily with digital media, his work often includes hints of realism with a touch of nostalgia or clever and contemporary abstract illustrations. He explores each subject fully, crafting just the right combination of imagery, color, and font/text (when applicable).
A few examples of his work are available on this website, but to view his full professional portfolio, please feel free to contact him directly!
Though trained in the Visual Arts with an emphasis on 2D work, Peter eventually chose to focus on the study of Music when completing his degrees. Still, he maintained his passion for design and continued to take freelance jobs as they came. From 2015 until July 2017 and from January 2019 to the present, he has worked as the Graphic Designer for the Spartanburg Philharmonic.
Wild Posters
In 2019, Peter won the “WILD Spartanburg” poster contest with his Glendale Shoals design and was commissioned to create an additional three posters for the Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) and the Tyger River Foundation. Along with their stylistic nod to the National Park posters from the 1930s and 40s, the four-piece series also serves to encourage tourism to Spartanburg’s nature preserves. All sales of the posters support SPACE.
