Bio

Pete Korpela is an accomplished musician in orchestral, latin, jazz, world, rock, and pop music. He has worked with Josh Groban, Robbie Williams, Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5), Melody Gardot, Luis Conte, Seth MacFarlane, Ron Jones, Nathan Pacheco and Randy Brecker. Pete has also collaborated with Lenny Castro, Alphonso Johnson, Jimmy Haslip, Emil Richards, John Beasley and Don Randi. Some of the drummers Pete has had the pleasure of playing with are J.R. Robinson, Ndugu Chancler, Mark Schulman, Kenny Aronoff, Jim Keltner, Virgil Donati and Bernie Dresel. He has appeared internationally in Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Philippines.

In 2011, Pete joined Josh Groban’s Straight to You world tour and is currently Mr. Groban’s percussionist. In 2012 he toured extensively with two different artists: jazz vocalist Melody Gardot, and tenor Nathan Pacheco. Between 2003 and 2007, Pete toured for over three years throughout the United States with the first national tour of the Tony-award-winning Walt Disney production, The Lion King, both as a marimbist and featured on-stage percussionist. While traveling, he organized and performed clinics for Pearl Percussion at many prestigious universities, as well as art and cultural events and at the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) convention in Louisville, KY. In addition, he was showcased at many Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS benefits, an industry fundraising initiative to assist those living with HIV/AIDS.

Pete’s work can be heard on the award-winning Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations soundtracks, which have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Recently, he performed on Latin GRAMMY®-Award nominated Trio Ella’s album “Con Ustedes” and on blockbuster movie “Possession” by Sam Raimi.