Peter Councell

“Please play musically.” That’s how I think about music. “How am I serving the music? How am I supporting the musicians I’m playing with? Am I respecting the art of music-making?” I love it. The whole thing! Music has a special place in my heart and it’s something I’ve been gifted to play and be a part of.

I was born in Brevard, NC and have my roots in Asheville, NC. My introduction to music was fairly early on when I was just a one-year-old rocking back and forth to Yanni, Beethoven, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and whatever else my parents loved playing through their JBL floor speakers. I was introduced to piano first and have been a faithful player of the keys since about the age of five or six. I came to love the drums when I saw a pro jazz player in Denver, CO come and teach a class for my school bandmates back in 1998. I was hooked! I loved the motions, the elegance of it, and the sound of separate instruments played together. I began my official career behind the drum set at the age of fourteen with an Asheville-based Beatles tribute band known as "Yesterday's Tomorrow". Since that time, I’ve studied under the direction of many great professional drummers such as Sammy Wolfe, Paul Babelay (Linda Eder, Dave’s Highway, Ryan Guerra), John Harwood, and Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Leftover Salmon, Jeff Sipe Trio, etc.)

I received my B.A. in Music Business and my concentration in Piano Performance from Montreat College in 2009. I've worked with such artists as Zach Blew, Kellin Watson, NELKEN, Undone, Darien Crossley, Anna Rose Beck, Worldline, Mandy Taylor, Gabrielle Tee, The Sun Cans, and many others. I've performed alongside such artists/bands as Birdie Busch, Daniel Ellsworth, and Horse In The Sea. Not only has my experience behind the drum set improved my musicality and musicianship, but also my experience as a pianist, composer, arranger, recording engineer, live sound engineer, instructor, and producer have proven to keep me in demand.

I also served as the Chief AV Conference Services Audio Engineer at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, NC. And, I am also the owner and member manager of a production company known as PC Productions, LLC.

I’d love to be a part of your musical endeavors. Contact me today! I’d love to hear from you.