Peter Van Zandt Lane (b. 1985) is a Boston-based composer and bassoonist. His compositions have been performed across the United States, as well as in Europe and South America, by acclaimed musicians and ensembles such as The Cleveland Orchestra, SIGNAL, International Contemporary Ensemble, Triton Brass, Xanthos Ensemble, East Coast Composers Ensemble, EAR Duo, White Rabbit, and NotaRiotous. He has written for chamber ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, choir, and often employs the use of electronics in his works.
Peter's compositions have been featured on various festivals and conferences such as the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (NYCEMF), Spark Festival, FEASt Fest, SEAMUS National Conferences, Forecast Music, Festival Miami, and LIPM/IEMS at the world renowned Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He has received awards in several competitions including the CRS Young Composers competition, the Forecast Music International Composers Competition, The Greater Miami Youth Symphony Composition Competition, the Cleveland Orchestra Miami Residency Call for Scores, and has been a finalist twice for the ASCAP/SEAMUS Student Commission. He is also a member of the Composers in Red Sneakers, one of the country's longest-running composer consortiums, and is the general manager for Boston-based new music ensemble Dinosaur Annex.
As an active freelance bassoonist in the greater Boston area, Peter performs regularly in chamber ensembles and in orchestras, often focusing on contemporary music, exposing the vast proficiency of the bassoon as an instrument used in an electroacoustic setting. He has been featured as a soloist at several conferences, and has premiered many works by living composers. He is also a founding member of the Avalerion Wind Quintet, a woodwind quintet dedicated to the performances of new works.
Peter is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Composition and Theory from Brandeis University. He holds a M.A. from Brandeis, and a B.M. from the University of Miami. He has studied composition with Melinda Wagner, Eric Chasalow, David Rakowski, Lansing McLoskey, and bassoon with Luciano Magnanini.