Peter Phippen
Peter Phippen Biography
World Flute Specialist/Recording Artist/Producer
Peter Phippen has spent the past twenty-two years playing, collecting and researching flutes from around the world. His connection to these instruments began when a friend gave him his first flute, an Indian bansuri. Since then, Peter has had four CDs released by Canyon Records of Phoenix, Arizona. Phippen’s Canyon recordings have brought his flute playing to the attention of critics and flute enthusiasts worldwide.
Released in October 2006, “Shadows of Dawn” was featured for five months in the top twenty-five on Public Radio International’s syndicated program ECHOES, peaking at #8. “Night Song” was a 2003 Native American Music Awards nominee in the Native Heart category. Peter’s “Echoes of the Past” was a finalist in the 2000 Crossroads Music Awards. And his debut recording with Canyon Records, “Book of Dreams”, charted at #17 in the New Age Voice. Phippen has also played antique and contemporary bamboo and Native American flutes on two releases for Lifescapes as well as three solo recordings with On Hold Productions/Music Design Specialties with the permission of Canyon Records.
Aside from his time in the recording studio, Peter is a frequent performer and lecturer at universities, public/private elementary and secondary schools, museums, festivals, and conventions throughout the United States. Peter has had the honor of being chosen as the featured world flute performer and lecturer at each of the conventions of the International Native American Flute Association: 2001 at Kent State University, Ohio; 2003 at Taos, New Mexico; 2006 in Belmont, California; and July, 2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His unique presentation on world flutes has been given at such locations as Dallas Community College, Dallas, Texas; University of Virginia at Newport News; Crane School of Music, Potsdam, New York; and twice at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Recent concert performances were given in Zion Canyon, Springdale, Utah; Hood River, Oregon; and the historic Chautauqua Institute in New York State. Peter has shared the stage with such musicians as R. Carlos Nakai, Coyote Oldman (Michael Graham Allen), and Peter Kater. Currently and for the past ten years, Phippen has taught world flutes to young students during College for Kids summer session on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Summer Institute.
In addition to his concert performances and educational presentations, Peter has produced recordings of numerous musicians: most recently the CD “Seven” by Michael Bucher which received two nominations for the 2007 Native American Music Awards and two nominations for the 2007 Indian Summer Music Awards in Milwaukee, WI; “Texas Cherokee” by Michael Bucher with special guest flutist Douglas Blue Feather for the Texas Cherokee Nation in April, 2008; and “Memory of Time” by Jan Seiden which charted at #19 in the New Age Reporter in May, 2008.
Originally from Potsdam, New York, Peter currently resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with his wife, Julie.