Visual Instructor
PETER BEMENT is an accomplished educator and performer, bringing over a decade of quality music education and performance to almost every stage. Mr. Bement hails from Costa Mesa, CA, and graduated from California State University, Fullerton. There, he earned both his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance and a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting. Mr. Bement’s principal conducting mentors include Dustin Barr, Gregory Whitmore, Kimo Furumoto, and Kevin Mayse.
Mr. Bement currently serves as the Interim Director of Bands and Interim Director of Orchestra at California State University, Los Angeles, where he also instructs students in conducting and teaches music theory coursework. Mr. Bement also serves as the Director of Orchestra for the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts and Huntington Beach High School, serving music students across the Huntington Beach school district. In this role, he leads the APA Pit Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Festival Orchestra and coordinates the chamber music programs. Mr. Bement has also served as a guest graduate conductor with the instrumental ensembles at CSUF, where he worked with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, and Symphony Orchestra over the past two years. These conducting opportunities included the premiere of new literature for the wind ensemble by composer Jack Bertrand and collaborations with Kristian de Leon, a significant area of research interest of Mr. Bement. Additionally, he frequently serves as the cover conductor for the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, working alongside Dr. Gregory Whitmore as a sectional and substitute conductor. His conducting expertise has led to significant recognition and accolades, such as the CSUF College of the Arts “Dream Big” Scholarship.
Beyond the podium, Mr. Bement continues actively teaching and performing in and around the greater Los Angeles area. A strong supporter of the multifaceted elements of K-12 music education, Bement frequently has collaborated with high school music programs in both the concert band and marching scene, working in the past with Rancho Cucamonga High School and Garden Grove High School. He is entering his third year with the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps as a visual instructor. As a Hornist, Mr. Bement has performed with organizations such as the Corona Symphony, Westside Ballet, and Performance Riverside. Additionally, Mr. Bement’s experience in the world of the marching arts includes seasons marched with Pacific Crest and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Alongside his degrees from California State University, Fullerton, Mr. Bement holds an Associate of Arts from Riverside City College and is a proud alumnus of both institutions. In his free time, Mr. Bement especially enjoys disc golf and brewing specialty coffee.