Peter Blackham

Originally from the Chicagoland area, Peter Blackham received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University, studying with teachers Stephen Beus, Irene Peery-Fox, and Jeffrey Shumway. He has played in masterclasses for Robert McDonald (Juilliard), Douglas Humpherys (Eastman), Sasha Cooke, Myra Huang (Manhattan), and Darrell Babidge (Juilliard). A prize winner in multiple competitions both as collaborator and soloist, including first prizes in the UMTA Concerto Competition, BYU Concerto Competition, and honorable mention in the MTNA Solo Piano Competition at the Utah level, as well as first prize at the Young Collaborative Pianists Competition, hosted by the Utah Collaborative Pianists Guild, he maintains an active collaborative career, playing for soloists and ensembles in both classical and musical theater all around Utah. He has collaborated with local ensembles such as the Sound of Ages choir in a world premiere of composer Andrew Maxfield’s “Book of the Way”, a piece for double choir and jazz-influenced orchestra; Utah Chamber Artists; GENTRI member Casey Elliott; soloist and Grammy-nominated chorister Chelsea Helm; and flutist Beatriz Macias. He is currently a staff pianist at the Utah Valley University in both the classical and musical theater departments and will be returning as a member of the staff at the Utah Valley OperaFest (formerly Utah Vocal Arts Academy). In his free time he enjoys being physically active through swimming, running, and hiking, and fosters a deep fascination with the beauty of nature.